Jht RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1237 
The Senator from New York 
A S we i)redieted, the Republicans at the New 
York State convention nominated Senator W. M. 
(’aider for another term. It was a very perfunctory 
proceeding. There was no enthusiasm and little 
interest outside of the delegates from Brooklyn. A 
very large number of rural delegates did not want 
Mr, Calder, but for some reason, best known to 
themselves, they presented no other name, and the 
managers announced the vote as unanimous. In 
truth, the convention seemed so afraid that Gov. 
Miller would not accept a renomination if there was 
any contest that it was willing to accept almost any 
ticket. The Democrats sprung a great surprise by 
nominating Dr. Royal S. Copeland, the present 
Health Commissioner of New York City. A few 
weeks ago Dr. Copeland made a trip up through the 
dairy districts of New York, and received a very 
flattering reception from certain officers of the 
Dairymen's League. Perhaps this induced the Dem¬ 
ocratic leaders to nominate Dr. Copeland, knowing 
that Mr. Calder has little personal strength among 
farmers. We must realize that fully 00 per cent of 
our rural voters will vote their party ticket The 
remaining 10 per cent may be more or less open to 
argument outside of partisan politics. These voters 
will ask for a fair comparison of the two candidates 
and we shall try to obtain it for them. To begin 
with, both are strong party men. We can hardly 
conceive of either of them bolting a party caucus or 
taking any strong independent course. As regards 
the non-political issues which are usually settled out¬ 
side of party lines, and which particularly concern 
farmers, we shall print a fair statement of their views. 
In order to avoid any injustice we have asked both 
candidates to answer specific quest inns. They will 
doubtless reply, and then we may have a full state¬ 
ment of their views for comparison. These nou- 
political or industrial questions should be weighed 
carefully by farmers, and there is no fairer way of 
doing it than to let each candidate speak for him¬ 
self. We also expect similar statements from the 
Senatorial candidates in New Jersey. 
Organizing Production and Controlling 
Distribution 
If all the odd corners anil the poorest land were re¬ 
forested with good varieties of wood, squaring up the 
remaining fields, concentrating in a small portion of the 
remaining land highly fertilized and well-tilled crops 
best suited to that particular land, the remainder in 
grasses and pastures, raising chickens, beef, horses, or 
cream, it seems to me to he the only solution of the 
average grower. This, combined with a real co-opera¬ 
tion between the various growers for marketing their 
products and also the buying of supplies. Then again 
I have thought how all the growers, or a majority of 
the same, iu any particular neighborhood, could, with 
the co-operation of their county agent, combine and 
agree to apportion to each of the several growers, grow¬ 
ing an agreed acreage of the crop their land and they 
have the best results with. Let them specialize in grow¬ 
ing fewer crops, so as to cover the whole needs of the 
usual family, then rent, with privilege of buying, a cen¬ 
tral place in several large towns or cities near by. suit¬ 
able for the retail disposal of all farm produce to the 
people direct. Fix a minimum nrice, to cover actual 
cost of growing, keeping home all second-class produce, 
having fixed rules for grading, buying all supplies co¬ 
operatively, and dividing all profits pro rata, as to cost 
and acreage. Here the farmers most all work the hard¬ 
est of any workingmen the larger portion of the year, 
early and late, and receive less in proportion than all 
others. E. ii. i\ 
HE first proposition is sound. It is what most 
of us must come to sooner or later. We have 
long thought that the co-operative store or selliug 
depot in the town or city will prove the best plan 
for distribution. We must remember that there is 
strong competition now from growers anywhere 
within 500 or 1,000 miles. At one time the melon 
growers of New Jersey had practically a monopoly 
of the Now York market. Now trainloads of melons 
come from Southern California. Mexico and even 
South America. Sweet corn came this year over 500 
miles, packed in boxes and barrels, while the entire 
earth seems to contribute to the potato market. This 
development of shipping will make it harder for the 
co-operative stores. In some localities the plan can 
be worked out. For iystauce. this past Summer a 
number of New Hampshire farmers combined to sell 
their produce direct to Summer hotels—and they 
made a success of it. 
The Tax Burden 
OST people of moderate means are finding it 
harder and harder to pay their taxes. In 
many cases these taxes have beeu multiplied by 
three and five during the past 10 years, and there 
seems little chance for any reduction. There may 
he a struggle to cut expenses, but whenever a dollar 
is saved iu that way there are a dozen schemes for 
spending it. All the way down from the United 
States Congress to the board of freeholders or the 
town committee you will find some one prepared 
with a scheme for using money. And Mr. Average 
Citizen is expected to pay the bills. During the past 
year it is estimated that more than one billion dol¬ 
lars of ngw capital have been taken out of direct 
earning business and invested in non-taxpaying 
securities. There are probably $25,000,000,000 now 
earning fair dividends for the owners, and yet not 
paying a dollar in the way of taxes. Most of these 
securities are in the form of bonds—Federal, State 
and municipal. Most of it represents money paid 
for the construction of sewers, schoolhouses and 
other so-called public improvements. While these 
tilings help give new values to property, they do 
not directly create new wealth. They drain money 
from business enterprises, and as they are tax ex¬ 
empt they throw extra burdens of taxation upon 
other classes of property. There seems little doubt 
that thousands of rich men who ought to carry their 
full share of taxation are shirking their duty by 
investing in these tax-exempt securities. If this 
keeps on one-half of the nation’s wealth will escape 
taxation, while all the financial burdens of govern¬ 
ment will be laid upon the owners of half the pro¬ 
perty. Iu such an adjustment the heaviest burden 
of all will be laid upon the farmer. The fairest 
plan will be to compel all these securities now ex¬ 
empt to pay their fair share of taxes and end the 
present system of special privilege. 
A Dime for Four Baskets of Apples 
I herewith submit statement of sales of 69 baskets of 
Wolf Liver apples. These were of large size (averag¬ 
ing about 40 to half bushel measure), and of good qual¬ 
ity, from farm about 150 miles from New York City: 
69 baskets sold, 75c each.$51.75 
Charges—69 baskets, at 23c.$15.87 
Cartage to Catskill. 6.90 
Freight thence by boat. 10.35 
Commission houses cartage. 4.83 
Commission .. 5. IS 
Labor, packing .. 6.90 
- 50.03 
Balance due shipper. $1.72 
Net returns, per basket... -02)4 
As the packer very generously made no charge for 
his services, the $6.90, added to $1.82. gives us $N.62 
for the 69 baskets, barely enough to pay cost of pick¬ 
ing. This even discounts the “35-eent dollar" by a big 
lot. I wonder what the consumer paid for this fruit? 
Oak Hill, N. Y. o. w. 
HERE is no telling what the consumer paid. 
The market is clogged with produce of all 
kinds, and considerable of it is thrown away as un¬ 
salable. Apples like Wolf River are usually bought 
by hotels and restaurants for baking. As a rule they 
do uot go into family trade even for cooking. It is 
probable that such apples brought about $1.23 per 
basket, in quantity. The entire market situation 
is abnormal this year. Day by day the markets are 
jammed with produce, while consumers complain 
abuot retail prices—except for potatoes. A large 
part of our own produce lias sob] for less than these 
apples, but as we deliver it by truck we are spared 
the cost of freight and commission. At this time 
the market situation i§ about as bad as it can be. 
Settling Disputes 
T HE R. N.-Y. is sincerely anxious to help its read¬ 
ers. That is what we are here for—uot per¬ 
functory service, but the best we can give. Some¬ 
times our people ask us for the impossible, for there 
are certain things which tee must do ourselves. No 
outsider, however wise or powerful he may be. can 
ever supply the needed element of personal effort. 
Sometimes we have trouble through not knowing all 
the circumstances. An instance of this sort occurred 
not long ago, when a reader made what seemed a 
fair and well-grounded complaint against a public 
official. It seemed so clear that we went to the 
State official and asked for an explanation and set¬ 
tlement. Investigation proved that It was a ease of 
personal hatred. The official complained of was a 
relative of the man making the complaint. They 
had beeu enemies for years, and the man with a 
grievance absolutely refused to go to the other and 
make a settlement, which the latter was perfectly 
willing to do. In order to make a legal settlement 
the two men had to meet and sign papers. This the 
first man refused to do, on account of his feeling 
against his relative. So. it appears, he complained 
to us and made quite serious charges. Of course, 
in such a matter there is uothing we can do except 
to try in a good-natured way to get the parties to¬ 
gether so as to settle their dispute. We find that in 
a number of eases where serious charges are made 
we do not get the full story. It. is often hard to give 
your opponent’s side fairly when you feel intensely 
that you have been wronged. And yet you can read¬ 
ily see that iu such private troubles Tue R. N.-Y. 
should act as a judge rather than as a special 
pleader fur one side. 
New York States Notes 
There is an unusual amount of Fall plowing this 
year. Many farmers are of the belief that Fall plow¬ 
ing, iu addition to getting some of the normal Spring 
work done, has a distinct advantage over Spring plow¬ 
ing, in the condition that it leaves the land. 
The Niagara County Dairy Improvement Association 
has a new tester for the association. This association 
has been of much value to the farmers of the county. 
The average production of the covys in Niagara County 
is 467 gallons, while that of the State is 592. Dairying 
is a side issue with many of the fruit farmers, although 
it: has been reported that many of the intensified fruit 
farms are adding some animals from time to time. 
The Western New York Holstein Breeders’ sale has 
been changed from November 2 to October 31. The sale 
will be held at the county fair grounds at Lockport and 
«ill comprise 15 head from the Niagara County Calf 
Club and 60 head selected from other members of the 
association in Western New York. Immediately after 
this sale work will bo started in selecting the individ¬ 
uals for the Middletown sale. 
The State Dairymen’s Association meeting will come 
November 14-16 this year. The following day the 
Watertown Holstein sale will be held. The breeders of 
Northern New York co-operating with the .State Dairy¬ 
men's Association officials will hold a banquet on the 
evening of November 16. The principal speaker of the 
evening will be John M. Kelly, vice-president of the 
National Holstein Association. 
Are farmers standing by the co-operative associa¬ 
tions? This question is often asked by the man on the 
outside, who hears much about the situation in the 
papers and from those who would not see co-operatives 
succeed. The real answer in the main to this question 
is. yes. There have been many moves that never should 
have been inaugurated at all that have not lived. These 
associations have been co-operative in name only. Un¬ 
less the co-operators are of the mind to co-operate, there 
never can be a truly successful co-operative. One of 
the most successful co-operatives in the State is the 
New York State Sheep Growers’ Co-operative Associa¬ 
tion. This association has developed its association on 
the basis that the wool must be sold on its merits and 
on the graded basis, so that every member is treated 
alike. The amount of wool pooled this year will ex¬ 
ceed that of last year. There will be pooled this year 
530.000 lbs., or slightly more than that amount. They 
have perfected a nice sale on some of their clip al¬ 
ready. ami a complete report will be made soon. 
While the milk market is low it. is well to consider 
some of the things that should he done. Efficient pro¬ 
duction is just as important as efficient marketing. As 
I go over the State I am impressed with the large num¬ 
ber of cattle that are producing milk at a loss for the 
owner, and will produce at a loss if the price should 
double. I also see a large amount of hay and other 
roughage that is fed cattle that can never make much 
of a milk flow. Why not consider more legumes, such 
as clover and Alfalfa? Y'es. this means lime, and well 
it might, for that is what will do many farms more 
good than any one thing at the present time. Some 
say that Alfalfa cannot be grown on their farm. I 
would agree with them if during the past year I had not 
walked on stands of Alfalfa in areas that you would 
naturally think was not the place to grow. Possibly 
this will not stay in as many years as in some of the 
natural limestone sections, but it is staying in long 
enough to be profitable. This is worth considering for 
those who are keeping cattle. 
The Winter course at the State College will open 
November 8. The tm-m closes February 16. These 
courses have ever been popular with farm boys, who 
can spend the 10 weeks to a good advantage. This 
course is one of the most valuable for the farming of 
the State. 
The game protectors in the Western part of the 
State are issuing information to hunters which may 
interest some of the rural readers. Squirrels are not in 
season until October 15. 15 days after the bird season 
starts. The squirrel season closes November 15. No 
person is allowed to take more thau five squirrels in one 
day. The rabbit season does not open until October 
15, and closes January L No person shall take more 
than six rabbits in one day. Ferrets are not permitted 
in the State only on order from the Conservation Com¬ 
mission. Partridge and woodcock are in season from 
October 1 to November 15. Hunters may take three 
partridge per day, while they were only permitted to 
take two last year. No person will be permitted to 
take more thau 15 partridges in open season. No per¬ 
son will take more than six woodcock in one day. nor 
inore than 24 in open season. The pheasant season is the 
last two Thursdays iu October and the first two Satur¬ 
days in November. The game protectors have issued 
the statement that no person has the right to hunt upon 
any posred laud without written consent of the owner. 
They say the law bus teeth. Here's hoping that these 
teeth are deep-rooted and uot false. At any rate, now 
is the time to get your land properly posted. A farm 
is private property and should be so regarded, the same 
as any other parcel of land, no matter where located. 
The trouble of it is some people don’t see it this way. 
E. A. F. 
Brevities 
How many of our people have kept up the use of war 
bread and other food economies of the war? Many of 
us learned that entire wheat bread was superior, but 
how many have kept on serving it? 
Ground limestone may be applied at any time during 
Fall or Winter while the ground is bare. We think it 
is best to use the lime wheu seeding grass or grain if 
possible, but this is not absolutely necessary. It may 
be used after seeding. 
At the State Fair we met a woman of mature years 
who was formerly a school teacher. After raising eight 
children of her own she went back into a district school 
“as a war measure." And we will guarantee that she 
gave full measure of service. 
The New York Experiment Station finds that acid 
phosphate is the best preservative for stable manure. It 
holds most of the ammonia and adds phosphorus. Am¬ 
monia is the element most likely to be lost, while phos¬ 
phorus is the element most needed in the manure. 
Often when the water ill a well or cistern becomes 
foul it may be greatly helped by putting iu a chain and 
bucket pmup and stirring the water up. The idea of 
this is that the water is well aired iu this way. We 
have known cases where carbonic acid gas collected in 
a well so as to be dangerous to anyone going down. 
Working a chuin and bucket pump stirred up the air 
and prevented trouble, 
