27o 
April 4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE B UaiNESS FABMEB'S PAPEB. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homea. 
EstablitJud 1850. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Editor. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet, I a 
Mrs. e. t. Boyle, Associate*. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. ‘ 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries In the Universal Postal Union, S2.04, 
equal to Ss. 6d., or 8% marks, or 10% francs. 
“A SQUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement In this paper li 
backed by a responsible person. But to make doubly 
sure we will make good any lo.ss to paid subscribers 
sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler advertising 
in our columns, and any such swindler will be publicly 
exposed. We protect subscribers against rogues, but wo 
do not guarantee to adjust trifling differences between 
■ubscrlbers and honest responsible advertlvsers. Neither 
will we be responsible for the debts of honest bankrupts 
sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint must 
be sent to us within one month of the Wnie of the trans¬ 
action and you must have mentioned The Rural New- 
YOKKBR when writing the advertiser. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remlttanca 
iB for, should appear In every letter. 
Remittances may be made in money order, express 
•rdcr, personal check or bank draft_ 
THE RURAL NE7W-TORKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 1903. 
PRIZES! PRIZES! 
Remember that The R. N.-Y. ofEers two prizes for 
the picture and plan of the best Grange hall. This 
contest will close on May 1. As yet only a few pic¬ 
tures have been received. The picture may represent 
a building already standing or show an ideal. 
• 
In the face of nearly unanimous opposition from 
farmers the bill providing for the enlargement of the 
Erie Canal has passed the New York Legislature. A 
great majority of the Representatives from the rural 
counties voted against it. Somewhat unexpectedly 
the Democratic members from New York City sup¬ 
ported the bill. There only remains the chance for 
farmers to defeat the scheme at the polls next Fall. 
« 
Dis.AsTER has befallen the maple sugar makers in 
northern Ohio. Our correspondent tells the story on 
liage 271. As he says, no bank failure could have 
caused the serious financial depression which the 
early Spring has brought upon the people. This mere¬ 
ly indicates what would happen to the whole country 
if all farm product? were cut off. The money piled 
up in the cities would avail little if the farmer did 
not coin the wealth which comes from the soil. 
* 
The bill providing for proper buildings and equip¬ 
ment for the Agricultural College is now before the 
New York Legislature. There has been much confu¬ 
sion at Albany over legislative matters, but now it is 
clearing, and farmers have a great chance to push 
this bill tlirough. Letters are pouring into Albany 
from all sides. Now if ever! Write at once to your 
Representatives that you favor this bill. If you have 
already done so—do it again. For the last time this 
Spring— a stamp for the education of the fartner. 
♦ 
The agricultural law of New York provides that if 
any agricultiiral society or club permits any immoral 
show or any gambling device upon its grounds it shall 
forfeit its share of State money. The Commissioner 
of Agriculture has just informed the officers of such 
societies that he will certainly withhold the money 
in case the law is violated. Good! We wish the sale 
of rum on the fair grounds could he added to this 
black list. Of course we are often told that you cant 
prohibit vice, but how this rule has cleaned up some 
of the fair grounds! 
* 
Reverence has been made in previous issues to the 
increased express rates on cut flowers, which went 
into effect last December, forming a most unjust dis¬ 
crimination against flower growers. It is pleasing to 
learn that the old rate was recently restored by all 
hut one company, which has reduced the rate to 50 
cents per 100 pounds, hut declines to reduce it to the 
old rate of 40 cents. Was it a sudden access of broth- 
crly love that induced these benevolent transportation 
companies to reduce their gains? Not at all; it was 
the result of organized effort on the part of the flor¬ 
ists. who are so banded together by city. State and 
National trade organizations that an injustice to one 
man becomes the cause of all. This case has given a 
lesson to the transportation companies, and also con¬ 
fers additional pre.stige upon a worthy industry. What 
the florists have done may be repeated by farmers, 
fruit growers, and allied interests, if they will be¬ 
come equally united. The fraternal feeling among 
florists is, as a rule, very strongly marked, and this 
feeling, which holds them together in social inter¬ 
course, forms a close bond in matters affecting the 
general welfare of the trade. They give other indus¬ 
tries an incentive to unite in similar organizations. 
• 
We regret to learn that the school of agriculture 
formerly located at Briarcliff, N. Y., is to be given up. 
It was impossible to obtain needed funds for its en¬ 
dowment and equipment. The chief aim of this school 
was to interest wealthy people in farming so that 
young men and women would be induced to buy land 
and carry energy and capital to the farm. A good 
start in this line was made, but naturally practical 
results were very slow in appearing, and doubtless the 
wealthy men back of the enterprise expected quick 
results. That is the mistake most business men make 
when they invest money directly or indirectly in a 
farm. They forget that any growth, be it in educa¬ 
tion or in the improvement of the farm, must be slow 
and steady—that it cannot be rushed as can be done 
with enterprises which deal with dead things. 
• 
Several large shipments of plums and other stone 
fruits from South African fruit farms have lately ar¬ 
rived in New York, and were promptly disposed of, 
though the retail price of these much-traveled exotics 
mounts to about 50 cents apiece. The fruits are large 
and showy, and come in fair condition, as little more 
than a month of time is consumed in transit. Not 
much is said about the quality, but that will prob¬ 
ably average up with similar products from the Pa¬ 
cific coast. A sample box or two of Wickson plums 
from the earlier shipments were forwarded to Cali¬ 
fornia, thus traveling 18,000 miles, but the consignee 
promptly burned the fruits as received on the plea of 
danger of distributing the Queensland fruit-fly, a 
much dreaded African pest. California horticultur¬ 
ists are very nervous about the introduction of plant 
pests, and go to somewhat ludicrous extremes in try¬ 
ing to avert the danger. If this African fruit-fly is 
to he troublesome the sooner we are prepared for it 
here in the East the better, as this invasion of African 
fruits, ripening just at the time our markets are bare, 
is not likely to he checked, if there is profit in the 
trade. 
The daily papers reiiorted great opposition to the 
proposed mortgage tax in New York from farmers. 
Our personal reports do not show this to be true. 
While a great majority of New York farmers are a 
unit in opposition to any enlargement of the Erie 
Canal at State expense they are divided on the ques¬ 
tion of taxing mortgages. Farmers are both borrow¬ 
ers and lenders. The following statement by an offi¬ 
cial in the New York Grange probably expresses the 
general opinion of farmers in northern New York: 
It seems to me that one of two things should be done— 
either tax all property, real and personal less indebted¬ 
ness—or exempt from taxation mortgages bearing a low 
rate of interest, say 3% to four per cent; mortgages 
bearing a higher rate tax on what is due and exempt 
that amount from the real estate assessment. Make all 
assessments for full value. But as an experiment the 
ma.iority of farmers are willing to try the proposed law- 
in order to get a better law in the near future. 
As a general proposition the farmers feel that real 
estate carries too large a share of public burdens. 
They favor any fair principle of taxation that will 
compel other forms of wealth to pay its just share. 
They favor enacting the law and then removing any 
unjust features as they are proved unjust by actual 
practice. ^ 
When planning gardening operations one important 
feature should not be omitted, and that is the chil¬ 
dren’s pleasure garden, if there are young people in 
the family. Many really excellent persons seem to 
think that the only desirable child’s garden should 
he a little patch of vegetables or fruits, the product 
to be sold upon strictly business principles, with the 
idea that the child thus gains practical money-getting 
ideas. Perhaps he does, but does he not also receive 
leanness withal unto his soul—the feeling that the 
soil is merely a medium for germinating dollars? A 
real and abiding love for Mother Earth is only ac¬ 
quired when she is made a partner In recreation, as 
well as in toil. Let the children raise useful crops 
by all means if they wish, but encourage them also in 
ornamental gardening, even though it be nothing 
more extensive than a row of sweet peas or a little 
border of irrepressible nasturtiums. The taste thus 
formed in early life is likely to grow with maturity— 
to sweeten toil and add an interest to life that is al¬ 
ways elevating. It is an interest that keeps the mind 
young, even amid the infirmities that sadden old age. 
The venerable Dean Reynolds Hole, whose first gar¬ 
dening venture was the purchase of a red geranium 
at the mature age of six, still finds his most con¬ 
genial work among his roses, though past fourscore, 
and many a discontented man or woman, whose later 
years seem barren because of opportunities denied in 
youth, could find in this pursuit a pleasure that in¬ 
creases year by year. “God Almighty first planted a 
garden, and indeed it is the purest of humane plea¬ 
sure,” said the sage who had enjoyed every gratifica¬ 
tion ambition could offer. Surely youth is the time 
to form a taste for such a recreation; the school gar¬ 
den is a good thing, but the home garden, drawing 
family together in united interest, is better. 
« 
Mr. Vergon, of Ohio, is over 70 years old. He has 
an orchard all the way from 15 to 42 years from 
planting on soil that has not been plowed for 50 
years! It will be interesting to hear what the “culti¬ 
vate or nothing” people have to say in reply to Mr. 
Vergon’s article. Of course we all know that there 
are old “sod” orchards which will not make even re¬ 
spectable firewood. In these orchards the small 
amount of grass which grows is cut and carried out, 
and the trees are never fed or sprayed. We will sec 
that our cultivation friends do not set up such an or¬ 
chard, like a man of straw, to be pounded apart. We 
have yet to learn of any orchard handled after the 
plan of Mr. Vergon or Mr. Hitchings that has failed. 
The true question is whether this plan is possible on 
any soil except such as will “grow apples anyway”! 
Both Mr. Vergon and Mr. Hitchings have soil that is 
naturally rich. Neither of them will claim that he 
can stick a tree into any old hillside, with thin, poor 
soil, and let it alone, expecting to obtain a full crop 
or a perfect tree. The first requirement of the mulch 
system is to have soil that is capable of producing a 
heavy crop of grass. Vergon and Hitchings started 
with soil of that character, and have left all the grass 
in the orchards. It remains to be seen whether one 
can start on poor soil and by means of manure or fer¬ 
tilizers start a crop of grass which “will do the rest.” 
We think it is possible in many locations. 
♦ 
The committee appointed to arbitrate between the 
coal miners and mine owners has made its report. 
There is a general disposition to accept the decision 
without protest. To our mind the greatest principle 
involved in the controversy was the demand for arbi¬ 
tration. As we all remember, the mine operators de¬ 
clared that there was “nothing to arbitrate.” The 
public felt differently—taking the view that public 
necessities are in a sense public property, and that the 
operators had no right to hold up the supply of these 
necessities as they would that of ordinary articles. 
The Commission has really taken this view. While it 
does not favor compulsory arbitration it provides for 
a joint commission or board which is to settle diffi¬ 
culties without a strike: 
The chief benefit to be derived from the suggestion 
herein made lies in placing the real facts and the re¬ 
sponsibility for such condition authoritatively before the 
people that the public opinion may crystallize and make 
its power felt. Could such a commission as that sug¬ 
gested have been brought into existence in June last, 
we believe that the coal famine might have been averted 
—certainly the suffering and deprivation might have 
been greatly mitigated. 
This clearly recognizes the right of the people who 
consume the coal, and this recognition is far more 
important than any other feature of the award. 
* 
BREVITIES. 
Give the unfortunate a lift—not a push. 
Who can make hogs pay with all the grain bought? 
Directions for putting up a lightning rod next week. 
There should be some profit in planting Catalpa trees 
in the West—according to the account on page 259. 
The best crop for old meadows, fre.shly plowed, is 
corn. That crop will get most out of the sour old humus. 
Some scientist has discovered that ‘•motion is the primal 
force of life.” He needed to get a "move” in order to 
lind that out. 
New York saloon keepers are again shouting theii 
threat to boycott New York cheese if the liquor taxes 
are increased! 
Among other vital needs in this country let us name 
men who would rather live on bread and cheese with 
God than with terrapin and the devil. 
Farmers who grow produce for the canners are still 
slow to sign contracts. They think the outlook warrants 
them in holding out for better figures. 
We have a letter from a man who asks personal ad¬ 
vice about a matter that will mean a large outlay o 
money, and then adds; “I am not a subscriber, because 
I have no money to subscribe." 
Remember what Mr. Hitchings says about feeding for 
fruit buds. It is the nature of the tree to make wood 
first and fruit buds later. By feeding the tree heavily 
in the earlv part of the season we start a heavy growth 
of wood and prolong it. If we use manure or fertilizer 
after the middle of Summer wc are most likely to stimu¬ 
late a growth of buds. 
Heavy .damage to peach buds is reported from many 
of the commercial producing sections. The crop o 
northern Georgia is said to be wiped out, while In t e 
center and south one-half to three-fourths of the buds 
are said to be killed. Through the Ozark region condi¬ 
tions are worse. Texas Elbertas are thought to be 
ruined. In Kansas there are no buds left except on hill¬ 
tops here and there. 
