526 
The  Rural  New-Yorker 
the  u traitress  farmer's  paper 
A  National  Weekly  Journal  for  Country  uinl  Suburban  1 1  omen 
Established  etoO 
Published  weekly  by  the  Ilnral  Pilblilhlne  Company,  3*8  West  30th  Street.  .New  York 
Herbert  W.  COI.MNIIWOOII.  President  and  Editor. 
John  J.  Pillow,  Treasurer  and  Oeneral  Manager. 
Wm.  F.  Dillon,  Secretary.  Mss.  E.  T.  itOYl.K.  Associate  Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION:  ONE  DOLLAR  A  YEAR 
To  foreign  countries  in  Hut  Universal  Postal  Union,  $2.01 .  equal  to  8s.  6d.,  or 
marks,  or  I o V,  f ratios.  Remit  in  money  order,  exiutjss 
order,  personal  check  or  bunk  draft. 
Euteretl  at  Sew  York  Post  Office  as  Second  Class  Matter. 
Advertising  rates.  78  cents  per  agate  line — 7  Words,  References  required  for 
advertisers  unknown  to  us  ;  anti  cash  must  accompany  transient  orders. 
“A  SQUARE  DEAL-* 
We  believe  that  every  advertisement  in  this  paper  is  backed  by  a  respon¬ 
sible  person.  We  use  every  possible  precaution  and  admit  t  he  advertising  of 
reliable  house* only,  Rut' to  make  doubly  sure,  wo  will  make  good  any  loss 
to  twiid  subscribe!-,-  anslnitua]  by  trusting  any  deliberate  swindler,  irrespon¬ 
sible  advert  isers  or  misleading 'advertisements  in  our  columns,  and  any 
stielt  swindler  will  lie  publicly  ex|iosed.  We  are  also  often  nulled  upon 
to  adjust-  differences;  or  mistake*  between  one  subscribers  and  honest, 
responsible  bonnes,  whether  advertisers  or  not.  We  willingly  tp-o  our  good 
offices  to  this  end,  but  such  eases  should  not  be  confused  with  dishonest 
transactions.  Wo  protect  sub.«ortbors  agnliu-t  rogue*,  but  we  will  not  bo 
responsible  for  the  debts  of  honest  bankrupt*  sanctioned  by  the  courts. 
Notice  ot  the  coin plai III  must  be  scut  to  us  within  One  inoiitli  or  tlic  time  of 
the  transaction,  and  to  identify  it,  you  should  locution  Till-:  Rural  New- 
Yorker  when  writing  the  advertiser. 
AS  you  know  we  are  urging  dairy  farmers  to 
dean  up  and  spray  the  old  orchards  so  often 
found  on  their  farms.  There  is  every  good  reason 
why  this  should  he  done.  When  the  trees  are  not 
too  far  gone,  no  job  on  the  farm  will  pay  better. 
On  page  512  David  Plank  tells  something  of  how 
these  old  trees  should  be  handled.  Another  thing — 
Mr,  Plank  says  he  makes  a  business  of  renovating 
and  spraying  these  old  orchards.  Here  is  a  sugges¬ 
tion  for  oilier  young  men  who  have  good  judgment 
and  want  a  business. 
* 
THE  best  article  on  maple  sugar  making  that  has 
yet  appeared  is  on  page  511.  Many  of  our 
Northern  readers  are  interested  in  the  sale  of  maple 
products.  Several  of  them  have  asked  if  they  will 
be  obliged  to  take  out  a  license  under  the  pure  food 
laws  if  they  sell  in  interstate  commerce.  No,  but 
they  would  be  in  a  belter  position  if  they  did  so. 
The  law  gives  the  following  definition  of  maple  pro¬ 
ducts  : 
Maple  sugar,  maple  concrete,  is  the  solid  product  re¬ 
sulting  from  the  evaporation  of  maple  sap  or  maple 
syrup. 
Maple  syrup  is  syrup  made  by  the  evaporation  of 
maple  sap  or  by  the  solution  of  maple  concrete,  and 
contains  not  more  than  thirty-five  per  cent.  (35%)  of 
of  water  and  weighs  not  less  than  eleven  (11)  pounds 
to  the  gallon  (231  cu.  in.). 
If  any  label  is  put  on  the  can  the  maker  must  be 
sure  that  the  weight  is  correct  or  the  package  may 
be  called  adulterated.  If  a  maker  ship  outside  the 
State  in  which  the  maple  is  made  it  will  pay  him 
in  the  end  to  apply  to  the  Food  and  Drug  Depart¬ 
ment  at  Washington  for  a  certificate.  While  it  might 
never  be  needed  it  will  prove  a  safeguard  and  an 
asset. 
* 
SOME  years  ago  the  late  Prof.  Van  Deman  sug¬ 
gested  that  in  some  of  the  mountain  orchards 
of  Virginia  spraying  might  lie  done  by  gravity  pres¬ 
sure.  His  idea  was  to  locate  the  tank  of  spray  mix¬ 
ture  at  the  top  of  a  mountain  or  hill,  and  run  sur¬ 
face  pipes  from  it  down  through  the  orchard. 
Spigots,  or  hydrants,  were  to  be  attached  to  these 
pipes,  and  from  these  lines  hose  with  rods  and  noz¬ 
zles  would  lead  out.  Thus  the  liquid  spray  in  its 
haste  to  run  down  hill  would  accumulate  force 
enough  to  spray  itself  out !  At  that  time  most  peo¬ 
ple  scoffed  at  the  idea  as  impracticable — yet  on  page 
512  we  are  told  how  this  very  thing  is  being  done  in 
an  orchard  located  in  a  mountain  cove,  or  valley. 
The  spray  tank  is  600  feet  above  the  lowest  point  of 
the  orchard  and  there  are  nearly  two  miles  of  pipes. 
An  engine  is  located  in  the  center  to  furnish  extra 
power  where  required,  but  the  trees  are  mostly 
sprayed  by  the  pressure  from  the  high  tank!  The 
workmen  simply  attach  their  hose  to  a  spigot,  turn 
on  the  water  and  spray  the  trees  within  the  radius 
of  their  line  of  hose!  What  next?  Surely  no  one 
is  justified  in  saying  that  we  are  anywhere  near  the 
limit  in  caring  for  an  orchard. 
* 
NO  doubt  about  it !  The  express  companies  have 
beaten  us  in  the  House  of  Representatives  at 
Washington.  Waiting  until  many  friends  of  parcel 
post  were  absent,  they  slipped  through  what  is 
known  as  the  Madden  amendment  to  the  Post  Office 
i  ill.  This  limits  the  weight  of  mailage  packages 
to  50  pounds.  It  also  takes  the  control  of  the  sys¬ 
tem  out  of  the  hands  of  the  Post  Office  Department. 
While  they  could  not  kill  the  parcel  post  entirely 
they  will  cripple  in  and  shut  off  its  future  develop¬ 
ment  if  they  can  force  this  amendment  through  the 
Senate.  The  danger  is  great,  and  stares  us  right  in 
the  face.  Our  only  hope  is  to  influence  the  Senate 
so  as  to  prevent  this  proposed  outrage.  Everyone 
of  you,  town  and  country  people  alike,  should  write 
to  the  Senators  who  represent  your  State  at  Wash¬ 
ington.  The  following  are  members  of  the  Senate 
©y>e  RURAL.  NEW-YORKER 
Post  Office  Committee,  and  they  may  be  addressed 
at  Washington: 
Senator  John  II.  Bankhead.  Alabama,  chairman: 
Senators  E.  D.  Smith,  South  Carolina;  C.  A.  Swan¬ 
son,  Virginia;  N.  P.  Bryan,  Florida;  J.  E.  Martine, 
New  Jersey;  J.  K.  Vardanian,  Mississippi,  T.  W. 
Hardwick,  Georgia:  J.  C-  W.  Beekluim,  Kentucky; 
Boies  Penrose.  Pennsylvania  :  C.  E.  Townsend.  Mich¬ 
igan  ;  T.  B.  Catron.  New  Mexico ;  L.  IL  Colt,  Rhode 
Island;  .T.  W.  Weeks,  Massachusetts;  Thomas  Ster¬ 
ling,  South  Dakota;  G.  P.  McLean.  Connecticut. 
* 
Are  You  With  Us? 
ON  page  380  we  asked  the  following  question: 
"ILc  auk  if  you  ever  heard  of  one  of  these  State 
agricultural  employees  who  ever  seriously  antagon¬ 
ized  the  railroads,  the  commission  men  and  han¬ 
dlers,  or  any  powerful  interest  which  rohs  or  takes 
advantage  of  farmers!'' 
We  have  waited  patiently  for  information.  Thus 
far  we  have  heard  of  one  man  in  New  England  who 
seems  to  talk  with  independence.  We  conclude, 
therefore,  that  there  is  no  such  man  in  New  York 
State,  or  if  he  is  here  he  prefers  to  hide  his  light 
under  a  bushel.  Are  we  not.  justified  therefore  in 
assuming  that  the  men  connected  with  official  or 
educational  agriculture  feel  that  they  are  limited 
to  discussion  of  production  or  perfunctory  or  in¬ 
definite  talk  about  marketing?  We  knew  that  be¬ 
fore.  but  we  wanted  to  make  it  entirely  clear  to 
our  readers.  We  are  not  finding  fault.  The  pres¬ 
ent  situation  is  the  legitimate  outcome  of  political 
conditions.  For  half  a  century  our  farmers  have 
been  accepting  “education”  as  their  share  of  public 
benefits,  while  the  other  classes  have  received  spe¬ 
cial  privilege,  direct  gifts  and  direct  and  special 
legislation.  Asa  result  the  farmers  have  been  obliged 
to  beg  for  the  support  of  their  educational  work, 
while  the  other  classes,  like  the  transportation, 
manufacturing  and  business  interests,  have  domin¬ 
ated  the  situation.  Thus  it  cannot  be  wondered 
that  men  who  are  supported  by  these  agricultural 
funds  feel  the  restraining  power  of  the  hand  which 
controls  the  supply. 
It  is  time  for  our  New  York  farmers  to  think 
clearly  and  accurately  on  this  subject.  The  inter¬ 
ests  which  dominate  legislation  and  hence  domin¬ 
ate  agricultural  institutions  are  the  very  ones  which 
oppose  marketing  reform.  They  know  that  any  in¬ 
crease  in  the  35-cent  dollar  must  come  out  of  the 
graft  mixed  in  with  the  remaining  65  cents.  They 
never  will  consent  to  any  real  reform  in  trans¬ 
portation  and  marketing,  and  any  college  or  station 
man  who  puts  up  a  true  fight  against  the  present 
conditions  will  surely  lose  his  head  unless  the 
farmers  stand  boldly  at.  his  side  and  hold  it  on! 
Now.  these  things  being  true,  it  follows  that  our 
farmers  will  never  have  any  real  market  reforms 
until  they  are  ready  to  light  for  them,  and  find  men 
who  will  do  the  fighting  out  in  the  open.  That  is 
why  we  have  so  persistently  stood  for  the  Foods  and 
Markets  Department.  We  challenge  contradiction 
when  we  say  that  this  is  the  first  and  only  attempt, 
to  put  the  real  question  boldly  and  openly  into  pub¬ 
lic  life.  The  very  interests  which  hold  the  chloro¬ 
form  up  to  the  face  of  our  educational  institutions 
will  kill  off  this  Department  unless  you,  as  a  farmer 
or  consumer  in  New  York  State,  prevent  it.  We 
put  it  right  up  to  you  in  this  blunt  way  because  we 
know  that  what  we  say  here  is  true.  We  will  gladly 
stand  out  iu  the  light  and  take  the  blows  and  the 
abuse,  but  we  cannot  save  the  day  unless  you  come 
up  also  and  help.  We  are  going  at  this  thing  with 
cold  reason,  and  not  with  any  fireworks  or  froth. 
It  must  he  done  solidly  and  by  human  bull  dogs  who 
will  hang  to  their  grip.  We  are  in  the  fight  for 
life,  and  we  want  you  right  here  by  our  side.  Do 
not  delay  a  moment,  but  write  at  once  to  the  fol¬ 
lowing  : 
Hon.  Charles  S.  Whitman.  Albany.  N.  Y. 
Hon.  Henry  M.  Sage.  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Hon.  Win.  J.  Maier,  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Tell  them  forcibly  and  so  that  they  will  under¬ 
stand  it  that  you  want  the  Department  of  Foods 
and  Markets  provided  with  an  appropriation  large 
enough  to  give  it  a  chance.  Do  not  tie  in  the  least 
afraid  of  them,  but  be  respectful  and  fair.  Do  not 
bluff  or  threaten  but  make  them  understand  that 
you  mean  business.  Those  who  are  fighting  this 
Department  have  plenty  of  dollars  to  spend.  You 
have  your  ballot,  and  at  the  final  round-up  ballots 
will  he  worth  more  than  dollars. 
* 
QUITE  a  number  of  readers  have  400  pounds,  or 
more,  of  potash  on  hand.  It  Is  worth  $300,  or 
mt> re.  per  ton  in  New  York,  and  that  is  too  much  to 
pay  for  fertilizer.  We  have  referred  many  such 
people  to  fertilizer  brokers  who  wi'l  buy  the  potash 
March  25,  191G. 
when  delivered  here  and  analyzed.  Some  farmers 
think  they  ought  to  he  paid  before  the  potash  is 
shipped,  but  the  dealers  will  not  buy  until  the  goods 
are  delivered  here  and  analyzed  by  a  reputable 
chemist.  They  will  pay  for  the  potash  which  such 
analysis  shows.  There  are  fertilizer  firms  which 
will  deal  honestly  in  such  matters.  There  are,  of 
course,  fakes  in  every  trade.  Some  would  steal 
potash  just  as  others  would  steal  eggs  or  apples. 
When,  however,  an  honorable  concern  offers  to  pay 
on  the  analysis  of  a  thoroughly  well-known  chemist 
he  offers  “a  square  deal.” 
* 
I  need  some  crop  which  I  can  plant  and  harvest  the 
same  season,  as  I  shall  he  short  of  hay  next  Winter. 
I  have  a  piece  of  ground  which  is  light,  sandy  loam, 
that  I  could  plow  this  Spring  and  plant  to  a  one-year 
crop.  The  soil  is  not  very  rich  nor  is  it  very  poor.  I 
wish  to  plant  a  one-.vear  crop  that  would  make  good 
feed  for  a  horse.  I  thought  of  seeding  the  patch  to  oats 
and  then  cut  and  cure  them  while  in  the  milk  stage. 
What  kind  of  feed  would  they  make?  Would  you  sug¬ 
gest  some  other  grain  or  mixture  that  could  be  used  for 
hay?  A.  B. 
Maine. 
IDS  need  is  one  of  the  most  serious  things  con¬ 
nected  with  Eastern  farming.  The  best  crop 
for  the  purpose  is  Canada  peas  and  oats  seeded  to¬ 
gether.  This  will  give  a  regular  “ham  sandwich” 
for  stock.  About  one  bushel  of  Canada  peas  per 
acre  should  be  seeded  four  to  five  inches  deep.  They 
may  he  scattered  oyer  the  acre  and  plowed  under 
or  the  soil  may  be  fitted  and  the  peas  drilled  in. 
Then,  a  few  days  later  2*4  bushels  of  some  strong 
growing  oats  should  he  drilled,  or  harrowed  in  two 
inches  or  a  little  deeper.  This  will  bring  the  two 
crops  up  close  together  and  they  will  grow  rapidly 
in  good  soil — the  oats  holding  up  the  peas.  The 
crop  may  be  cut  when  the  little  peas  are  just  form¬ 
ing  in  the  pods  and  cured  or  handled  the  same  as 
clover  hay.  It  makes  a  dry  fodder  about  equal  in 
feeding  value  to  clover  and  suitable  for  all  kinds  of 
stock.  Nothing  else  will  equal  oats  and  peas  for  a 
rich,  quick-growing  fodder  and  after  the  crop  is 
taken  off  millet  or  buckwheat  can  be  seeded.  Do 
not  expect  to  grow  a  large  crop  on  poor  soil.  It 
requires  good  soil  and  careful  preparation,  but  for 
a  get-there-quiek  crop  there  is  nothing  like  it. 
* 
Save,  the  rags! 
HERE  is  a  great  shortage  of  paper-making  ma¬ 
terial,  especially  for  the  finer  grades.  Rags 
are  needed  for  this,  and  the  situation  will  revive 
some  of  the  old-time  profit  in  rag  collection.  What 
is  known  as  “the  gospel  of  ease.”  which  means  not 
bothering  to  save  wastes,  has  nearly  destroyed  some 
of  the  old  economical  habits  of  saving  rags,  papers 
and  ashes.  We  must  come  hack  to  them,  and  the 
present  rag  situation  will  offer  good  opportunity  for 
enterprising  boys  or  men  to  develop  a  little  business 
in  buying  and  selling.  Do  not  leave  it  all  to  pro¬ 
fessional  rag-pickers! 
♦ 
SENATOR  ARGET SINGER  of  Monroe  County 
has  introduced  at  Albany  a  bill  to  change  the 
character  of  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture. 
It  is  said  to  be  hacked  by  the  State  Grange.  Briefly 
stated  the  Department  is  to  be  administered  by  a 
Board  of  Agriculture  to  consist  of  one  member  from 
each  judicial  district,  to  he  appointed  by  the  Gov¬ 
ernor.  with  the  consent  of  the  Senate.  Each  mem¬ 
ber  is  to  be  a  person  of  practical  agricultural  experi¬ 
ence,  but  residents  of  a  city  are  not  to  he  disquali¬ 
fied  for  the  office.  The  term  of  office  of  the  members 
of  the  board  is  to  he  nine  years,  and  they  are  to 
serve  without  compensation,  except  for  their  actual 
expenses.  The  board  is  to  appoint  the  Commission¬ 
er  of  Agriculture,  who  is  to  serve  during  good  be¬ 
havior.  and  who  is  to  be  subject  to  removal  by  the 
board  upon  charges.  The  Commissioner  is  to  ap¬ 
point  deputies  and  other  employes,  with  the  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  board.  This  follows  the  plan  which 
has  been  worked  out  in  other  States  and  would  at 
least  bring  the  Department  closer  to  the  people. 
Brevities 
The  ice  crop  is  heavy  at  least. 
You  must  remember  that  what  seems  “piffle”  to  one 
man  may  be  a  prayer  to  another. 
To  propagate  a  case  of  “grippe”  put  a  hot  frame 
into  a  cold  bed. 
There  may  be  those  who  blush  unseen,  but  those  who 
bluff  require  an  audience. 
The  first  step  toward  failure  is  this  thought  in  mind 
“I  can’t  do  it  !" 
Tiie  Indiana  Station  finds  that  many  samples  of  seed 
oats  are  very  defective.  The  State’s  wheat  crop  is  short 
and  there  will  be  a  large  acreage  of  oats.  The  seed 
should  be  tested  with  great  care. 
If  it  will  pay  to  treat  seed  potatoes  for  scab  it  will 
also  pay  to  select  the  seed  carefully.  Take  the  cleanest 
seed  you  have.  Better  throw  out  any  tubers  showing 
much  scab.  Some  fanners  use  scabby  seed  thinking  the 
solution  will  destroy  all  germs.  This  is  a  mistake.  Use 
clean  seed  and  then  soak  it  to  make  sure. 
