The RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
801 
America’s Trade With Europe 
■Many of us do not realize how the trade conditions 
between this country and Europe have changed since 
the war. In former years this was a debtor nation. 
We owed great sums of money to foreign countries. 
They took much of our surplus, just as any creditor 
will trade with his debtor in order to collect, his debt. 
Now the United States is a creditor nation: the 
world, and Europe in particular, owes us vast sums 
of money. The conditions are therefore reversed. 
We cannot force Europe to buy our goods and thus 
increase her debts. The European nations will nut 
buy of us in order to collect their debts. They owe 
us, and must buy in the world's market wherever 
they can obtain best prices. Australia, South Amer¬ 
ica, South Africa, Canada and Russia now will com¬ 
pete with us in the production of food and fiber. We 
no longer have any trade advantage over them in the 
fact that our exports are used to pay our debts. All 
these other countries are prepared to give us harder 
competition than ever before. And. again. Russia 
and Central Europe will, within a few years, come 
back as great producers of grain and meat—the 
products which in former years have provided the 
bulk of our exports. Our own opinion is that Russia 
will follow France in history, and that the present 
Soviet government will give way to a stronger and 
permanent system under which Russia will be great¬ 
ly developed. Our restrictive immigrant laws will 
have the effect of driving surplus population from 
many European countries into parts of Russia, so 
that agriculture will he fully developed. The chances 
are. too. that cotton growing will be developed in 
Southern Europe and Asia so as to give considerable 
competition to the American cotton crop. It would 
seem then that in the future our people must work 
hard and face keen competition in order to hold our 
export trade. The idle ships made during the war 
and not needed, now useless, should be put in service 
to provide cheap ocean freight. And, most of all. 
the American home market should be fully devel¬ 
oped. with improved distribution and such a division 
ot the consumer’s dollar that farmers can increase 
their buying power. Until that is done it is useless 
to talk of continued prosperity. 
The Farmer’s Expense and Share 
rt a wagon, a gang plow, a corn binder and a grain 
in dor at Moline, III., for 70S bushels of corn, of which 
30 bushels wear for the implement, the other 168 pay- 
binder and a grain 
The Pittsburg Dispatch recently printed this item: 
In August. 1014. a farmer in Culbertson, Neb., could 
gft 
hi 
iiVg freight. In October, 1921, he had to turn over 4.214 
bushels of corn for the same outfit, of which l,o93 bush¬ 
els went for the tools and 2,021 for freight. By Janu¬ 
ary 1!>22, the corn needed had dropped to 3,083 bushels, 
of’which 1.583 went for the tools and 1.500 for freight. 
One month later he needed only 2.08# bushels of corn. 
< f which 1,370 went for implements and 1,008 for 
ficieh:. la March, two months ago. he needed only 
2.180 bushels of corn, divided 1,300 for tools and 880 
fi r freight. 
li will be noted that what the farmer could buy for 
(530 bushels of corn in 1914 costs now. after reductions. 
1,309 bushels, or more than double the 1014 value on 
which the farmer rests with bis products. This is a gap 
tiiat must be closed in some manner before stability can 
i, expected. Iu practice the farmer’s dollar contains 
about *18 cents. 
We do not know where these figures were obtained, 
hut we assume that they are approximately correct. 
Much the same thing would he true of other products 
—small grain, fruit, hay, wool, etc. These figures 
represent a "swap” of farm products for needed sup¬ 
plies—hut this is not all the story, for the farmer not 
only had this wide margin against him. hut lie had 
to pay his expenses in a 35-ceut dollar. It is bad 
enough to he obliged to give 880 bushels of corn in 
order to have 2,180 bushels hauled to market, hut 
when that corn is sold to the final consumer only 
a little more than one-third of the final price gets 
hack to the farmer, and with that he must pay taxes, 
interest and expenses for supplies, all of which are 
figured and made so that lie has nothing to say about 
hem. 
New York’s Billiard Room Law 
The last New York Legislature made a law regu¬ 
lating pool and billiard rooms in this State. Such a 
law was needed, for since the prohibition amend¬ 
ment was carried the poolrooms in many country 
towns have become very offensive. The new law 
compels the proprietor of a billiard room to take out 
u license and file a boud for .$500. The State 
license fee is $5 for each table used. Half the 
money for license and fines goes to the State, the 
< tlier half to the local government. No license is to 
lo granted to any alien or anyone ever convicted of 
a felony. Severe fines and loss of the license are 
prescribed penalties for violations of this law. No 
minor "actually or apparently under 18 years of 
age” shall he allowed to enter such billiard rooms 
unless accompanied by parent or guardian. The 
windows and doors must he of clear glass, so that 
anyone may easily see inside. Such rooms must he 
closed promptly at 12 o'clock and remain closed until 
7 a. m. All forms of gambling, sale of intoxicating 
liquor or habit-forming drugs are prohibited. It is 
a drastic law, and its prompt enforcement will he 
appreciated by thousands of our readers. Many 
country people have complained to ns about these 
billiard rooms. Since the saloons were closed most 
of the “tough” element in country towns seems to 
have settled into these resorts, and many a young 
country boy has been led into mischief in this way. 
Some towns have already suppressed all such re¬ 
sorts. This law will regulate and clean up most of 
those remaining. There is no reason why the game 
of billiards should he associated with the tough ele¬ 
ment of any town. The game itself is clean and in¬ 
teresting. and it should not he used as a screen for 
evil associations. 
Discussions of the Milk Question 
The Non-pooling Minority 
John Anderson’s article on page 740 is so illogical 
and unreasonable that it is hard to get his real meaning. 
The principle that the majority shall rule is the only 
principle that can lead to anything hut chaos. There 
never was and there never will be an association intend¬ 
ed for the mutual benefit of all that does uot have its 
opposing minority. Then what shall be done? Some 
of the changes desired by the non-pooling minority are 
considered by the pooling majority as taking the very 
life from the contract- I have seen more failures result¬ 
ing from inability of perfectly solvent corporations of 
the highest character to secure funds at the critical mo¬ 
ment, than from any other cause, and if the Dairymen’s 
League Co-Operative Association, Inc., were to be put 
in the position where those seeking its destruction 
would have snob an advantage, those feeling as I do 
would have more justification for withdrawing than 
have the minority for staying out. Let us suppose that 
the changes desired by some of the non-poolers were 
made and they came in; it is well known that all of 
them would not come in. and some now in might with¬ 
draw. Then what would Mr. Anderson do if the new 
minority took it upon themselves to put into practice the 
same tactics that the present minority are now using? 
Would he say it was the majority that was causing the 
chaos? Would he say. "Let us make the changes they 
desire to bring them in"? Would it not lead to a see¬ 
saw game that would he worse than nothing? The only 
just and right solution is for all the producers to work 
within the organization, the minority for such changes 
as they think desirable, but which they are not. entitled 
to unless they can make the majority see that such 
changes are desirable; and rest assured that whatever 
changes and modifications may be desirable, which only 
time and experience can demonstrate, will be seen and 
recognized by the majority and put into effect. The 
only just way is for the majority to rule. Any other 
system can lead to nothing but chaos, and it is the non¬ 
pooling minority who are making the present chaos. 
fc. PEAHSAIX. 
The Will of the Majority 
Your remark at the head of John Anderson’s article 
on page 740. that the plan adopted by the will of the 
majority in any organization should be given a fair 
chance to make good, is the best and most timely re¬ 
mark yet made. In every article written by non-poolers, 
considerable space is wasted by the assertion that 
threats, force and coercion have been used to sign the 
pooling eon tract. 
When an owner points out to a prospective customer 
the benefits (o be derived from the use of bis goods, and 
the chances of loss due to his failure to do so. the own¬ 
er's persuasion cannot bo called threatening, forcing or 
coercion. The principal trouble with the non-pooler is 
that be has never offered a substitute workable plan, 
lie sees the dollars he has gathered at the expense of 
the poolers slipping from him. and his lack of vision 
into the future drives him to making remarks alto¬ 
gether unfounded by facts. g. erler. 
New York State Notes 
The Earlville Holstein sale recently held was the most 
successful one that the State association has held. 
There were 178 head of cattle sold, besides seven small 
calves. The average price of the sale was $18(5.53. 
When one considers that (52 of these were females that 
were under two years of age it reflects a very satisfac¬ 
tory average. Forty cows arid two heifers in the sale 
with nllii ini records brought $260. The high-priced cow 
in the ode was Aiken Belle De Kol, the 30-lb. cow con¬ 
signed by the Aiken Farm at Ithaca, and sold to E. A. 
Ynndervort of Sidney for $550. The second high priced 
cow was a 20-lb. three-year-old consigned by F. D. Rot¬ 
ter of W ent Olieonta. and pure based by C\ II. Boss of 
Sherburne for $505. The counties of Chenango. Madi¬ 
son, Delaware and Otsego were the heavy buyers, tak¬ 
ing 155 of the IS5 sold. Of the remaining 50. 41 were 
sold to different points in New York Stale, while nine 
went to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 
One of the picnic features of the New York State 
picnic and field day to be held at the State College will 
be a quoit tournament between counties of the State. 
Clo miiug County had a county tournament going all 
Winter among the Granges, and will no doubt present a 
well-rounded team. 
With so many country blacksmith shops being used 
for garages, the question of what the farmers of the 
future are going to do about getting their horses shod 
presents quite a serious problem. Looking forward lo 
this time, County Agent Wille of Sullivan County re¬ 
cently conducted a practical extension school for the 
purpose of acquainting farmers not only with the the¬ 
ory of horseshoeing, but the practice as well. Mr. As¬ 
ians, who has been a skilled shoer for many years, con¬ 
ducted the practical demonstration. 
The introduction of sunflowers as a silage proposition 
brings up the question as to whether this will take the 
place of corn on high elevations, where it seems best 
adapted. In Cattaraugus County some of the farmers 
around Franklinville are trying it out to see for them¬ 
selves, At present the favor seems to be slightly for tlm 
sunflower, but many are nut accepting this until they 
see it tried another season. 
I took a trip through the southern tier counties of 
the State recently, and observed that there is quite a 
variation in the condition of the crops. Clover seemed 
to be coming unusually well for the dry Spring we 
have had. Wheat, although in small areas in that sec¬ 
tion. is looking very well. Oats are coming slowly. The 
weather has not been too favorable, ami probably the 
poor seed which many farmers used as a result of last 
year’s crop has bad a great deal to do with it.. The rye 
crop seems to be heading well, and indications are for a 
favorable crop. Mustard has been quite a nuisance in 
many of the valley farms. A number of farmers have 
been spraying this Spring in order to check its growth. 
They are using regular power potato sprayers. 
Despite the fact that many folks have been pessi¬ 
mistic about the price of milk and all that pertains to 
it, the price of cattle seems to be carrying along on a 
level that is surprising. The sale on the Paul Smith 
farm in Newark Valley averaged $233 for 02 head sold. 
Of course these were purebreds. many of them with 
good records, yet the average held up unusually well. 
Many of these cows will stay in Tioga County. 
One of tile things which Holstein breeders of the State 
are talking about is the question of the annual meeting 
of the national association. There are some who be¬ 
lieve that pnrtof the transfer fee now going to the na¬ 
tional association should go back to the State associa¬ 
tion to help carry on their work. 
The number of middlemen who handle cabbage and 
tomato plants must be greatly reduced this year, if one 
might judge by the roadside markets which many farm¬ 
ers have established along State roads frequented by 
autoists this year. Some of these growers, are finding 
this method of marketing profitable, especially where 
they are Combining with the sale of garden plants the 
sale of flower garden plants, such as pansies and asters. 
I was down in the hill country of Southern New York 
last week, and I learned more forcibly than ever what 
the use of lime means to the farmers in that country. 
The dairy industry is without doubt the principal onp, 
and it is the dairymen who realize the value of clover, 
which they have not bad until they used lime. On one 
farm, as we passed the lime sower, the owner remarked 
that it was the most valuable tool on bis farm. As we 
passed out through the orchard he pointed to a field of 
clover over the fence. It was tine. There was good 
seeding, and when you walked through it and saw the 
body of hay that was already started. I could appreciate 
why the dairyman was happy with his catch. As we 
paused in the field he remarked that he had wasted 
three seedings of clover in the field before he tried 
lime, and he further added that he bad made his last 
seeding without first using lime. He found it necessary 
on some of his extremely sour fields to use more than a 
ton to the acre. 
We have heard so much about co-operation, both for 
and against it, that sometimes we do not recognize it. 
when we see the real stuff in our very neighborhood. I 
never had true co-operation so brought to my attention 
as I did a few days ago at a farmer’s dinner table where 
I was stopping for just a short rime. The farmer was 
a man who had come up through the various stages of 
being a hired man and tenant, and is now a prosperous 
owner of two good farms, and. best of all. he has two 
sturdy boys who are bis stand-bys. While we were 
eating dinner a neighbor came in and asked to borrow a 
manure spreader. The owner had the spreader rigged 
to use three horses, but the neighbor only had two. 
When the request was made, the older of the two sons 
said. ‘T>ad. you would better let him take one of our 
horses, too, and then he won’t have to shift the tongue.” 
The father thought just whar would bp the best scheme, 
thinking also whether something already planned for the 
next day would not require the extra horse. The neigh¬ 
bor implied that it would be an imposition to borrow the 
horse, but still the farmer was thinking. Finally, at 
the conclusion of the dinner, as the younger boy was 
leaving the table, he said in a subdued tone: "You bet¬ 
ter let him have the hotse. Dad : he is behind with bis 
work now.” This was the deciding factor, and as I 
drove away from the farm the neighbor was going in 
the opposite direction with the manure spreader anil 
the extra horse. Such co-operation does not come by 
the pound, but comes from the true spirit of neighbor¬ 
liness that 5* so often found all over the old State. 
Nearly every sport has a period of recurrence like the 
17-year locust. One of the latest comeback* is the horse¬ 
shoe pitching craze. Over the entire State there are a 
few men gathered here and there after work pitching old 
horseshoes with all their might, with as much interest 
as ever displayed for the American game of baseball. 
Some of the interest is no doubt due to the State con¬ 
test. which will be played at the Srate farmers’ picnic 
at the Srate College on June 22 and 23. 
The dry Spring has given a setback to many up-State 
gardens. The amount of local early vegetables is lim¬ 
ited. It is probable that the late start of radishes will 
encourage the number of maggots which usually come 
with late plantings. E. A. F. 
Madison County Pea Growers Form 
New Co-operative 
The Madison Co.. N. Y., pea growers have dissolved 
the marketing association known as the Madison Pea 
Shippers, Inc., which has been marketing peas for the 
past five years, and have formed a new association 
known as the Madison County Pea Growers’ Co-opera¬ 
tive Association, Inc., which will market the crop in the 
future. The main point of difference between the old 
association and the new is that under the old system a 
member could ship in the association or not. as he 
liked. Under the new system a contract must be signed, 
binding the grower for a term of five years, to ship all 
of his crop under the association name. A heavy pen¬ 
alty is attached for any grower who defaults, so that 
the contract really has "teeth.’ The directors of the 
old association endorsed the new proposal, a new board 
of directors was elecred, and shipments under thp new 
co-operative will start as si«m as producers representing 
50 per cent of the acreage planted have signed con¬ 
tracts. t. E. T. 
Corn at our local mills. 70. 75 and 83c. This corn is 
not graded, but as it conies from farms, sorted in field 
last Fall. Rye in the sheaf, or rye and straw, $25 per 
ton: hay. $18 to $20; wheat straw. $15. Milk, 5%c 
Iter qt. ; potatoes, 2c per IK; eggs. 34c per doz, ; butter, 
35 to 10c per lb.: old hens, 30c per ll>. Farmers as a 
rule iu our section are a little better satisfied now than 
a while back; business is a little better. While our 
seed potatoes cost nearly as much as last year, our fer¬ 
tilizer was very much cheaper. Labor is not down 
where it really should be. but lower, so you can see our 
expenses will not be so heavy. Not being in the dairy 
business I cannot give you exact prices on mill feed, 
l nt do know they are down to reasonable prices 
Monmouth Co., N. J. james l. Moreau. 
