Ghe  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
1277 
A  Simp’.e  Rustic  Seat.  Fig.  524 
York  City  deliver  fresh  bread  to  grocery  stores 
and  other  places  in  large  quantities  every  day. 
What  is  left  or  unsold  is  1  .trough t  to  the  bakeries  by 
the  delivery  wagons  every  day.  It  is  then  broken 
ni»  and  placed  on  top  of  the  ovens,  where  it  remains 
Several  days  until  thoroughly  dried  or  until  all  the 
moisture  is  driven  out  Of  the  pieces.  It  is  then 
placed  in  bags  and  sold  in  carload  lots  to  manu¬ 
facturers  of  fancy  chicken  feed  or  elsewhere  to 
supply  the  demand.  Its  cost  per  ton  at  the  present 
time  including  freight  is  less  than  meal,  so  it  may 
he  fed  to  stock  to  advantage.  For  pigs  it  is  given 
with  skim-milk  or  may  be  fed  to  hens  or  cows 
slightly  moistened  with  water,  and  makes  a  desirable 
food.  Although  not  as  good  for  producing  fat,  ow¬ 
ing  to  the  small  percentage  of  protein  it  contains, 
stock  thrives  on  it  and  does  well.  Slum-milk  is 
carried  to  the  hog  house  at  the  Maigne  farm  by 
means  of  an  iron  pipe  from  the  cow  barn,  a  distance 
of  ten  rods.  w.  n.  G. 
The  Light  of  the  Moon 
Are  the  last  quarters  and  first  quarter  of  the  moon 
called  the  dark  of  the  moon,  or  what  part  of  the  four 
quarters  of  the  moon  are  called  the  dark  of  the  moon? 
Does  frost  do  most  damage  to  growing  crops  in  the 
light  or  dark  of  moon?  Mas.  s.  J. 
Montana. 
HE  moon,  you  know,  has  no  light  of  its  own;  it 
merely  reflects  the  light  of  the  sun.  Some  part  of 
the  moon  is  always  lighted  up  by  Ihe  sun.  hut  there 
is  a  time  when  we  can’t  see  that  lighted  side.  This 
is  during  that  part  of  its  trip  about  the  earth  when 
it  gets  exactly  between  us  and  ihe  sun;  the  lighted 
side  is  then  toward  the  sun  and  away  from  us,  and 
we  see  nothing.  This  occurs  at  the  end  of  the  fourth 
and  beginning  of  the  first  quarters,  or  at  “new 
moon."  The  dark  side  of  the  moon  being  turned 
toward  us,  we  are  in  “the  dark  of  Ihe  moon.”  As 
the  moon  emerges  from  its  position  between  us  and 
the  sun.  we  begin  to  see  one  edge  of  its  lighted  side 
as  a  half  circle;  this  elvseent  grows  wider  and 
wider  as  the  moon  works  around  to  where  we  can 
see  more  and  more  of  its  lighted  side,  and  finally, 
when  the  moon  gets  on  the  opposite  side  of  the 
earth  from  Ihe  sun,  the  sun  shines  past  us  and 
lights  iqi  the  whole  side  of  the  moon  that  is  turned 
toward  us.  We  then  have  full  moon :  llie  time  when 
we  receive  the  greatest  amount  of  light  from  if.  or 
the  “light  of  the  moon.”  This  period  is  at  the  end 
of  llu*  second  and  beginning  of  the  third  quarters. 
The  influence  of  the  moon  upon  growing  crops  is 
an  unknown  quantity.  It  is  customary  to  laugh  at 
tiie  idea  that  it  has  any,  as  superstition.  We  know, 
however,  that  the  sun’s  rays  have  everything  to  do 
with  life  and  growth  :  hut  for  the  sun,  life  would 
he  quickly  blotted  out .  Tt  seems  not  unreasonable, 
then,  to  think  that  the  sun’s  rays  when  reflected  to 
ns  from  the  moon,  and  received  at  second  hand,  may 
have  more  power  than  we  know.  At  any  rate,  let 
those  who  say  lhal  they  have  none  prove  it.  I  know 
of  no  reason  to  think  that  frosts  of  equal  severity 
do  more  harm  at  one  time  than  at  another,  so  far 
as  the  moon  is  concerned.  m.  b.  d. 
Alfalfa  in  a  Maryland  Orchard 
I  have  an  orchard  I  would  like  to  put  down  in  grass. 
There  are  old  apple  trees,  also  a  lot  of  young  ones 
planted  about  seven  years  ago.  l'art  of  ground  is  in 
fair  condition,  has  been  used  for  truck  and  rye.  Could 
I  plant  Alfalfa  in  it  or  would  it  take  too  much  from  the 
trees?  1  have  been  told  the  ground  has  to  be  in  pretty 
good  condition  for  it  to  catch.  F.  j.  a. 
North  East.  Md. 
KAOTICATj  experience  in  growing  Alfalfa  in 
this  State  does  not  encourage  seeding  anything 
hut  good,  clear  funning  land  to  this  crop.  Land 
used  for  such  purposes  should  he  capable  of  yielding 
oh  bushels  of  corn,  and  should  be  cropped  only  to 
Alfalfa.  I  do  not  know  of  a  more  satisfactory  or 
profitable  hay  crop  where  conditions  are  right,  nor 
of  one  that  is  likely  to  prove  a  greater  failure  or 
disappointment  where  poor  land  is  used  or  the 
1> reparation  is  poor.  I  would  not  think  of  seeding 
a  young  orchard  or  an  old  one  either  to  Alfalfa.  I 
would  recommend  your  planning  to  seed  it  to  Al¬ 
falfa  next  August.  In  the  meantime  get  it  as  free 
from  weeds  as  possible,  have  it  limed  at  the  rate 
of  a  ton  of  burned  lime  to  the  /icre,  or  two  tons  of 
ground  limestone,  and  see  that  it  is  properly  inocu¬ 
lated.  Y'ou  have  in  Cecil  County  a  County  Dem¬ 
onstration  Agent.  D.  F.  Marsh.  Elkton,  Md.  One  Of 
the  lines  of  work  he  is  following  is  the  introduction 
of  Alfalfa  growing.  I  would  advise  your  getting  in 
touch  with  him  before  deciding  whether  or  not  you 
can  profitably  grow  Alfalfa.  As  for  your  orchard,  a. 
better  crop  for  if  would  he  Crimson  clover,  but  if 
you  have  not  sown  anything  as  yet.  rye  at  the  rate 
of  a  bushel  and  a  half  per  acre  will  answer  the 
purpose  if  you  want  a  cover  crop.  If  you  are  trying 
to  grow  a  crop  of  hay  and  a  crop  of  apples  on  the 
same  piece  of  ground  don't  do  it.  Either  try  to 
raise  a  profitable  crop  of  apples,  improving  the 
land  with  Crimson  clover  or  cow  peas,  or  cut  down 
the  trees  and  prepare  your  land  for  seeding  to  hay 
next  August,  either  Alfalfa  or  a  mixture  with  Al¬ 
falfa  in  it.  Make  use  of  your  County  Demonstra¬ 
tion  Agent.  If  may  he  that  he  can  be  helpful  to  you 
iu  improving  your  apple  crop  as  well  as*  in  giving 
practical  help  in  starting  an  Alfalfa  field.  e.  b. 
Are  Express  Companies  Responsible  ? 
WE  find  if  very  difficult  and  in  many  cases  im¬ 
possible  to  collect  claims  for  damages  from 
the  express  company.  Damages  are  mostly  in  empty 
egg  eases  and  poultry  shipping  crates  returning, 
Bread  and  Milk  Hogs.  Fig.  525 
also  iu  small  shipments  of  eggs.  \Yc  have  lost  sev¬ 
eral  customers  whom  we  were  shipping  l“-dozen 
cases  of  eggs  because  of  regular  breakage.  We 
have  not  found  it  practicable  to  ship  this  sized  case, 
except  when  the  receiver  has  been  up  and  doing  for 
damages.  One  person  to  whom  we  ship  in  Syracuse 
has  lost  several  cases,  and  one  30-dozeu  case  was 
received  in  good  order  apparently;  when  opened  was 
found  to  have  about  five  dozen  eggs  missing  and 
about  an  equal  number  cracked.  Evidently  the  case 
had  been  cleaned  up  and  repacked,  but  in  all  cases 
of  breakage  or  loss  at  this  ollice  an  agent  has  been 
called  upon  to  inspect  the  damage,  ami  loss  has  been 
paid  at  once.  The  express  company  cannot  he  aware 
that  they  have  an  office  so  honestly  conducted. 
When  we  attempt  to  collect  damages  at  our  of¬ 
fice,  although  our  agent,  knows  just  what  damage 
there  is  in  goods  we  receive,  and  just  what  condition 
our  eggs  are  in  when  shipped,  the  express  company 
requires  us  to  make  out  affidavit  sworn  to  before 
notary  public  for  each  separate  claim.  One  time 
we  put  several  claims,  amounting  to  about  $5, 
in  one  affidavit.  It  was  returned,  and  we  were  re¬ 
quired  tn  make  out  three  or  four  affidavits  to  cover 
this  amount. 
Over  one  year  ago  we  had  considerable  breakage 
in  regular  30-dozen  cases  to  New  York.  After  sev¬ 
eral  months  we  secured  most  of  the  claims,  and  since 
that  time  there  has  been  no  breakage  in  several 
hundred  cases  which  we  have  shipped  to  New  York. 
At  the  present  time  we  are  holding  broilers  and 
fowls  for  shipping  at  a  loss  daily  because  the  ex¬ 
press  company  does  not  return  shipping  crates.  Out 
commission  man  sends  us  the  original  receipt  show¬ 
ing  that  crates  have  been  delivered  to  express  com¬ 
pany,  hut  it  is  weeks  before  the  crates  are  delivered 
here,  if  at  all.  Out  of  the  last  10  returned  we  have 
received  hut  two.  We  would  like  to  know  if  there  is 
any  way  of  making  express  companies  deliver  goods 
within  a  reasonable  length  of  time;  also  if  they  can 
require  us  to  make  separate  affidavits  as  stated. 
New  York.  f.  e.  u. 
R.  X.-Y. — As  we  have  explained,  the  Interstate 
Commerce  Commission  has  no  authority  to  compel 
the  express  companies  to  be  careful,  accommodating 
or  efficient.  Their  rates  can  be  overhauled  and  reg¬ 
ulated.  hut  not  their  conduct!  In  respect  t<>  the 
service  they  give  the  public  they  stand  about  the 
same  as  a  manufacturer  or  dealer  selling  or  deliv¬ 
ering  goods,  except  that  the  public  can  quit  buying 
of  people  who  do  not  serve  them  properly,  while  for 
many  kinds  of  packages  the  express  companies  have 
a  virtual  monopoly.  Some  of  these  companies  are 
improving  their  service,  and  are  accommodating. 
Others  seem  to  he  indifferent  and  make  little  effort  to 
please.  We  see  no  remedy  except  enlarging  the  pow¬ 
er  of  the  Interstate  Commerce  Commission  so  that 
these  public  carriers  will  be  compelled  to  give  fair 
service. 
A  Talk  About  Crop  Rotation 
I  would  like  to  know  what  is  considered  a  good  rota¬ 
tion  of  crops  for  wheat?  We  raise  the  following:  Po¬ 
tatoes.  oats.  corn,  buckwheat  and  also  wheat.  Last  Fall 
we  plowed  an  out  field  for  the  wheat,  but  were  advised 
by  a  lrieud  to  put  wheat  in  sod  ground.  8.  J.  it.  s. 
Buffalo,  X.  Y. 
HERE  are  many  good  crop  rotation  systems. 
The  best  rotation  may  or  may  not  have  been 
formulated,  owing  to  the  great  variety  of  ideals 
and  opinions  on  the  subject.  However,  the  best 
one  for  the  individual  is  the  one  that  contains  the 
desired  crops.  A  leguminous  crop  of  some  sort 
should  enter  and  be  a  prominent  part  of  every  rota¬ 
tion.  as  the  foundation  for  the  system.  The  crops 
should  he  so  chosen  and  fitted  into  the  rotation  that 
the  work  will  he  spread  out  over  the  season,  thus 
avoiding,  so  far  as  practical,  one  crop  interfering 
with  another. 
In  the  nature  of  things,  markets  and  conditions 
are  either  constantly  or  gradually  changing,  to  such 
an  extent  that  crop  system  changes  are  frequently 
advisable.  For  instance  in  my  own  case.  ISO*  to 
into,  our  crop  rotation  was  wheat,  clover  and  po¬ 
tatoes.  a  three-yea r- rotation.  Gradual  success  with 
Alfalfa  has  caused  a  change  to  wheat.  Alfalfa,  Al¬ 
falfa  and  potatoes,  now  a  four-year  rotation.  This 
caused  the  farm  to  lie  changed  from  three  fields  to 
four  divisions.  After  much  thought  and  discussion 
this  change  seemed  wise.  Whether  it  is  only  time 
and  experience  can  determine.  However,  the  ten¬ 
dency  of  the  times  appear  to  he  a  rotation  in  which 
a  cultivated  crop  like  corn,  potatoes  or  beans  pre¬ 
cedes  the  wheat  crop,  thus  avoiding  the  expensive 
plowing  and  complete  preparation.  While  cultivat¬ 
ing  corn,  potatoes  or  beans,  these  cultivations  are 
also  a  past-preparation  for  the  following  wheat. 
Evidently  the  man  who  stated  <>at  stubble  was  no 
good  for  wheat  was  undoubtedly  a  novice.  Anyway, 
what  crop  slmuhl  follow  oats?  A  sod.  especially  a 
clover  or  Alfalfa  sod,  is  ideal  for  any  crop,  but 
more  particularly  so  for  a  cultivated  crop.  Many 
farmers  at  present,  while  sowing  oats  in  Spring, 
are  also  seeding  to  clover  and  Alfalfa  with  success 
and  gratifying  results.  T.  e.  martix. 
They  toll  <>f  an  Angus  bull  at  the  South  Dakota 
Agricultural  College  which  sold  for  $1000.  Within 
throe  months  the  now  owner  sold  him  for  $5000.  Do 
the  boy  graduates  at  that  college  run  up  in  similar 
value? 
Wheal,  Rye  and  Graham  Bread  for  Hoc:  Feeding.  Fig.  526 
