316 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
MAY M 
THE 
RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
A National Journal for Country and Suburban Homes, 
Conducted by 
KLBBBT 8. CABMAN. 
Address 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
No. 84 Park Row, New York. 
SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1889. 
The price of New York and Brooklyn 
manure has been steadily going lower for 
several years. This is accounted for by 
the fact that the quantity of chemical 
fertilizers used is increasing every year. 
-■ ■ ♦ >■ » - 
The Osage was the leading musk-melon in 
Chicago in 1887, as well as during last year, 
bringing 50 to 100 per cent, more than other 
melons .— See Mr. Foote's article on melon 
growing, page 312. 
-- 
President Chamberlain’s anti-monopoly 
articles have seemed to the R. N.-Y. forci¬ 
bly interesting and they ought to do 
good • they ought to set people to think¬ 
ing and to acting. The article this week 
is the last of the series. 
“If square, hard work shall make my 
work a success here, my friends will not 
regret their efforts to get me into the 
place.” So writes the earnest, conscien¬ 
tious Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, 
Edwin Willits, the late President of the 
Michigan Agricultural College. Success 
to you, Mr. Willits, and to Secretary 
Rusk. We need good, true men in your 
positions; we need them badly. 
Mr. T. C. Robinson, of Ontario, Can¬ 
ada, writes as follows: — 
“I have nothing but good to say of the 
Rural. It preaches just the sort of 
Gospel of Agriculture that I need. I 
would rather pay $10 a year than be 
without it. It is worth more to me than 
all other agricultural and horticultural 
papers published, in your vast empire, 
combined—so far as I have seen, and I 
have tasted all the cream.” 
Ten years or more ago the R. N.-Y. 
raised many different kinds of so called 
cow peas. This crop has been com¬ 
mended for silage purposes. As stated 
at the time, our cows and horses refused 
to eat the vines and leaves. Cow- pea hay 
in the South has a value, as we all know, 
and the R. N.-Y. stated the fact with 
hesitation. Now, Professor Shelton, of 
the Kansas Experiment Station, says, in a 
late bulletin, “Our cattle refused to 
eat this forage, either green or cured.” 
Doubtless, as with Prickley Comfrey, 
farm animals may be educated up to 
relishing this fodder. 
There are several varieties of the Pur¬ 
ple barberry that hold their purple color 
during the summer just as well as does 
the Pissard’s plum, and for color of 
foliage and shapeliness of bush alone, we 
should prefer the barberry A large pro¬ 
portion of Purple barberry seedlings will 
have purple leaves. A R. N.-Y. seedling 
bears leaves as purple in midsummer as 
in early spring. But Pissard’s plum 
bears plums—small, of a peculiar flavor, 
it is true—but plums that are relished by 
some when eaten raw and by all when 
canned or stewed. Now this plum is 
the nearest to curculio-proof of any va¬ 
riety ever raised by the K. N.-Y. In fact, 
it is the only variety we have ever raised 
that matures its fruit unless the jarring 
method is resorted to. 
Bishop Potter: “Thegrowth of wealth 
and the prevalence of luxury, the mass¬ 
ing of material forces, which, by their very 
existence, are a standing menace to the 
freedom and integrity of the individual, 
the intense swagger of the American 
speech and manners, mistaking bigness 
for greatness, and sadly confounding 
gain and godliness—all this is a contrast 
to the austere simplicity, the unpurchas- 
able integrity of the first days and first 
men of our Republic, which makes it im¬ 
possible to reproduce to-day either the 
temper or the conduct of our fathers.” 
The R. N -Y. has planted two acres of 
potatoes on the trench system—one acre 
to Rural New-Yorker No. 2, and the 
other to Brownell’s Winner. On one 
acre nothing but chemical fertilizer was 
used, while on the other stable manure 
was added to the fertilizer. One acre is 
on an upland, while the other is on lower 
ground that rarely, if ever, suffers from 
drought. The planting of the last acre 
was quite “a family affair.” The wife of 
the family cut potatoes, the hired girl 
and the young lady visitor dropped the 
seed-pieces, the hired man scattered 
the fertilizer, while the “head of the fam 
ily” filled in the trenches. The horses 
were just as interested as anybody, the 
cow looked over the fence in evident ap¬ 
preciation,and the dog seemed willing to 
give the whole thing his general super¬ 
vision We all had a good time and 
went in to supper with surprising ap¬ 
petites. 
■-♦. . - » « . »- 
A Jersey cow runs in the pasture at 
the New Jersey farm. Three of the 
neighbors’ cows run in the same field. 
Thus all the cows eat the same kind of 
grasses. Grain for these cows is bought 
at the same place so that we know they 
get the same kind of grain feed, and they 
all drink from the same stream. Is the 
milk or butter made by these cows the 
same ? One might say it ought to be since 
the food and water are exactly alike for 
each cow. But,no 1 The butter made by 
the Jersey is at least 10 shades darker 
than that made by the grades and 
a quart of her milk will make, by actual 
test, 25 per cent, more cream than a quait 
from either of the other cows. We can 
understand why one cow should make 
richer milk than another—it is impossible 
to make the Jersey fat, while the other 
cows are easily made fat enough for beef 
—but what we cannot understand is that 
the Jersey should make butter of a deep, 
rich yellow, while the other cows, from 
the same food, make light and pale yel¬ 
low butter. 
Animals seldom forget bad habits. 
Many farmers know this to their sorrow. 
Halter-breaking horses, fence breaking 
cows, jumping sheep, and sheep-killing 
dogs seldom forget how to perform their 
mischief. One cannot be too careful in 
the training of a young animal. Firm, 
yet gentle treatment with a watchful 
carefulness that makes it impossible for 
an animal to take advantage of weak 
halters, broken fences or other helps to 
mischief should always be employed in 
the rearing of young animals. Scotch 
farmers report some curious instances of 
the disastrous effects of teaching unde¬ 
sirable habits to sheep. In the High¬ 
lands of Scotland the sheep are expected 
to pick their own living during the 
winter. In ordinary seasons they will do 
so successfully. Now and then an un¬ 
usually severe winter occurs, and farmers 
are compelled to feed hay or even grain. 
The sheep never forget this extra feeding 
and expect it ever after. They will not 
hunt for their food as formerly, but will 
stand about waiting to be fed even in 
mild winters. Some farmers are actually 
compelled to sell such sheep, and buy 
others that have not been winter-fed. 
What are to be the duties ot the As¬ 
sistant Secretary of Agriculture? Secre¬ 
tary Rusk has just defined them. The 
following Divisions of the Department ol 
Agriculture and Sections thereof are as¬ 
signed to his charge subject to the reserv¬ 
ations mentioned: The Botanical Division 
ana Section of Vegetable Pathology; the 
Pomological, Microscopical, Chemical, 
Ornithological, Forestry and Entomolog¬ 
ical Divisions, together with the Silk 
Section and the Office of Superintendent 
of Experiment Stations. The Assistant 
Secretary will, in general, control and 
direct the scientific policy and operations 
of these Divisions and Sections, and all 
questions and correspondence involving 
their scientific work will be submitted 
to him for approval and signature. All 
such scientific matters, however, in 
which questions of administrative policy 
are involved, though primarily subject to 
the consideration of the Assistant Secre- 
tary, are to be submitted to the Secretary 
for his approval before final action is 
taken. All matters considered by and all 
matters originating in any of the above 
Divisions, in which administrative feat¬ 
ures or policy are involved will be referred 
to the Secretary himself. The investiga¬ 
tions and experiments in the manufacture 
of sugar from sorghum are excepted from 
these rules. The actual work, it is seen, 
will be under the direction of the Assistant 
Secretary; while the general management 
remains in the hands of the Secretary. 
The old battle of the farmers against 
the union of the State Agricultural Col¬ 
lege with the State University, or rather 
the absorption of the former by the lat¬ 
ter, raged in the upper branch of the 
legislature of Minnesota the other day, 
and once more the farmers were defeated. 
It was contended on their side that the 
college ought to be separated from the 
university, and “carried on according to 
the original design of the General Gov¬ 
ernment.” It was bitterly urged that 
while the university now gets a large 
proportion of its support from the Gov¬ 
ernment grants for the college, the form¬ 
er flourishes owing to the paramount con¬ 
sideration it receives; while the latter is 
dwindling and decaying from sheer neg¬ 
lect. The students at the university, who 
are, in reality, beneficiaries of the college, 
affect to sneer and despise the students 
entered at the latter—the puppies affect 
to bite the hands that feed them. As the 
college is kept now, there is nothing to 
show that it is worth anything; whereas if 
it had its due, its assets would amount to 
$1,200,000, and it would be able to run 
alone without help from the State. 
Every argument urged against the separ¬ 
ation of the two was a plea in behalf of 
the university—not one cogent reason was 
adduced in support of any possible bene¬ 
fit to agriculture from the union of the 
two bodies. It is-to be hoped that the 
advocates of such unions in other States 
have more honest arguments against sep¬ 
aration than those urged by the Senators 
of Minnesota. 
OUR COUNTRY. 
N EW YORK City has just finished 
a most remarkable week. It is 
doubtful if ever before in the history of 
the world, any city served as the vent 
for such a wave of patriotic enthusiasm 
as came sweeping in from all over the 
country. It was a week to make Amer¬ 
icans doubly proud of their heritage. It 
was a time calculated to warm the blood 
of old men; it recaded memories of brave 
days and noble deeds when history was 
made at lightning speed. It was a time 
calculated to fill the minds of the young 
with patriotic inspirations, and fit them 
the better for the duties which the 
future has in store. The city was one 
vast array of flags. Wherever the eye 
could turn our beautiful banner flashed 
into view. And what a magnificent pro¬ 
cession was that which passed through 
the city’s streets! It is our policy to 
cultivate the arts of peace. Foreign 
nations laugh at our military strength, 
and yet who that saw the crowds of citi 
zen soldiery passing up Broadway could 
not realize that every man in the ranks 
would be followed by 50 others if the 
country demanded them? And the in¬ 
dustrial exhibition was the most sur¬ 
prising of all. Side by side with the 
rude implements in use 100 years ago, 
came the marvelous productions of 
modern times. The growth of industry 
was shown step by step and the revealing 
of this wonderful growth was like the re¬ 
vealing of a miracle. 
Yerily it is a blessed privilege to be 
known as an American citizen. We live 
m a goodly country. Witnessing such 
celebrations, or reading and thinking 
about them, gives one a broader view of 
life, and fixes more clearly in mind the 
great thought that the strength of this 
great country of ours is founded, not 
upon the deeds and plans of a few 
leaders, but upon the right thinking and 
right acting of millions of common 
people. 
A SHREWD GAME. 
T HE R. N.-Y. wished to make its Hay 
Special as complete as possible. 
There are multitudes of haying tools on 
the market. Dozens of different mowers, 
rakes, forks and other implements are of¬ 
fered for sale. ‘‘ Which one shall I buy ? ” 
Farmers often ask this question, and it is 
one of the hardest questions to answer, 
because it seems so hard to get an honest 
opinion from those to whom we are 
obliged to refer. The R. N.-Y. has not 
tested all the haying tools that are offered 
for sale. We are frequently forced to re¬ 
fer questions concerning this or that tool 
to farmers who ought to be capable of 
giving a conscientious opinion. We 
wrote Mr. A. C. Glidden, a well-known 
writer on agricultural topics, asking him 
to gjve a list of the haying tools he had 
found most useful. Shortly afterwards, 
the following letter came to hand: 
“Gentlemen: We have a letter from A. 
C. Glidden, in which he says he has receiv¬ 
ed an order from you to write an article on 
haying tools to be published in your Hay 
Number. He says he will mention the 
Eureka as the mower, if we will send him 
$25 at an early day; but if we do not he 
will mention the McCormick center-draft 
mower. We do not propose to be black¬ 
mailed, and would not under any circum¬ 
stances submit. EUREKA MOWER CO.” 
Mr. Glidden was at once asked to ex¬ 
plain. His explanation is to the effect 
that the Eureka Mower Company have 
not treated him fairly, as he believes, and 
that he proposed to “get back onto 
them,” and he thought this was a good 
chance to do so. 
The R. N.-Y. has nothing to do with 
any business difference between Mr. 
Glidden and the Eureka Mower Company. 
It is opposed to all schemes for black¬ 
mailing or for disguised advertising. If 
we cannot publish honest, square and 
conscientious opinions regarding imple¬ 
ments, tools or farm methods, we will 
know the reason why. We do not care for 
any more communications from Mr. Glid 
den. We give this case prominence for 
two reasons: 1, We want our readers 
to understand that we propose to do our 
utmost to secure honest and trustworthy 
reports. 2. Writers who propose to at¬ 
tempt to use the R. N -Y. as a medium 
for the payment of private grudges or for 
stealing free advertising are warned that 
they will have to stand the consequences. 
It will be well for readers to bear these 
facts in mind since many agricultural pa¬ 
pers are just now full of just such articles 
as Mr. Glidden would have sent us. 
“ We always feel suspicious and doubtful 
of a woman who does not care for home and 
home life; there is something lacking. And 
it is noticeable that love for, and pride in a 
home , will keep a woman to the right when 
other influences fail. Let us encourage this 
home feeling, by all means, for it is one of 
the safeguards of the nation ."— Emily 
Louise Taflin’s Department last week. 
brevities. 
All About Hay Next Week. 
In the R. N.-Y.’s estimation nothing is 
gained by cutting potatoes until planting 
time. 
On page 312 will be found the views of a 
number of ensiloists regarding the economy 
of ensilage machinery. 
Your cows should be able to give 10 times 
their weight in milk every year. That is the 
ideal you should breed for. 
The past winter has given little opportun¬ 
ity to test the hardiness of new plants. All 
sorts of blackberries at the Rural Grounds are 
alive to the tips. 
“ Let the public grumble to some purpose 
or else stop grumbling. Let the watchword 
be. a maximum of efficiency, a minimum of 
cost.” Pres. Chamberlain’s anti-monopoly 
articles. 
What a fortune awaits the manufacturer 
who shall first perfect a machine that will 
cut grain and bind it with a straw band ! The 
“Twine Trust” would soon starve out with 
such a machine in the field. 
Dr. T. H. Hoskins has originated a crose 
between the Blue Squaw corn of Dakota and 
his Karly Dean Sweet, which is as sweet as 
the Black Mexican and as early as Cory. The 
color is nearly that of the Mexican. 
We are going to sow a good quautity of 
the Thoroughbred Flint corn in drills. This 
will be cut for the cows.during latter July and 
August. We do not care if the cows stav in 
the barn all day during the very hot weather. 
“ if our government cannot compel these 
corporations to serve the people economically, 
impartially and well, it will have to revoke 
their charters, refund their actual capital and 
itself do the work they refuse to do economic¬ 
ally and properly.” 
Several readers of the R. N.-Y. have dis^ 
cussed the wisdom or folly of burning straw. 
Some pretty strong terms have been used on 
both sides. The men who advocate this prac¬ 
tice will be likely to be a little staggered when 
they read the “discussion” coming next week. 
If you can raise 20 bushels of potatoes on 
one-fortieth of an acre, how much more ter 
tilizer or manure and culture can you afford 
to give the plot than if you raise five bushels? 
The one is at the rate of 1800, the other at the 
rate of 200 bushels to the acre. Moderate this 
somewhat and let the question oe for acres in¬ 
stead of plots. 
We had always been taught to turn the 
cows out every day during the winter for ex¬ 
ercise. When a boy, the rule, as we now re¬ 
member it, was that the cows should have 
exercise, no matter if they froze their horns 
in getting it. Of late years we have never 
turned the cattle out on very cold days. 
During the past winter a German workman 
insisted that the cows would be better if they 
were kept in all the time. As he had shown 
good judgment in pother things, he had a 
chance to prove his statement. We are now 
compelled to say that the cows are cortainly 
jU?t qs well off for not going out of the stable . 
