836 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
December 15 
The Rural New-Yorker 
J TEE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Established 1850. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Editor. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet, 1 
H. E. Van Deman, > Associates. 
Mrs. E. T. Hoyle, ) 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A TEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, 82.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or 8*4 marks, or 10 y% francs. 
ADVERTISING- RATES. 
rhirty cents per agate line (14 1 nes to the inch). Yearly orders 
of 10 or more lines, and 1,000-line orders, 25 cents per line. 
Reading Notices, ending with “ Adv .,” 75 cents per 
count line. Absolutely One Price Only. 
Advertisements inserted only for responsible and honorable houses 
We must have copy one week before the date of issue. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remittance is for, 
should appear in every letter. 
Remittances may be made in money order, express order- 
personal check or bank draft. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
40S Pearl 8treet. New York. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1900. 
We don’t often ask special favors of our friends, 
but when we do we try to get at it without ifs or 
ands. Of course we assume that you are to be with 
us next year. Let’s waste no words over that. You 
know us, and you know what we can do. You know, 
too, that next year’s work will be the best we can 
put through the mill. If you have not faith in out¬ 
works we cannot work up your faith. Now the favor 
we ask is this: We want an early renewal this year. 
There are good reasons for being prompt with the 
dollar. We want to crowd as many subscriptions as 
possible into the month of December. Don’t say that 
everybody else will heed this call—therefore you need 
not act. We are talking right to you with the freedom 
gained by long friendship. 
* 
The Eastern New York Horticultural Society will 
meet in this city February 13-14, 1901. A fine pro¬ 
gramme is assured. The meeting will be held in the 
greatest domestic and export market for fruit on 
earth, and will surely be interesting. 
* 
After a sharp debate the Grout bill passed the 
United States House of Representatives on December 
7 by a vote of 198 to 92. Mr. Wadsworth’s substitute 
was first voted down by 178 to 113. This was a larger 
vote in favor of the bill than was expected. It is sur¬ 
prising that the bulk of the opposition came from 
southern Congressmen. We say surprising, because 
of all sections of the country the South most needs 
the benefits that come from dairying. The fight is 
now transferred to the Senate. Every Senator should 
be deluged with letters urging support of this bill. The 
time to write is right now! 
* 
At the cassava conference recently held at Ocala, 
Fla., the value of cassava for stock-feeding was dis¬ 
cussed. Prof. Stockbridge, of the State Experiment 
Station, said that cassava as a basis supplemented 
with peavines or Velvet bean forage produced a stall- 
fed beef superior to Chicago meat in tenderness and 
flavor, at a net profit of two cents a pound. He was 
convinced that the use of cassava would render stock- 
raising in Florida a highly profitable business. South¬ 
ern planters began raising cassava as a starch-pro¬ 
ducing plant for the tapioca manufacturers, and this 
will doubtless be continued, but it may be, after all, 
that its greatest value to Florida will be in feeding 
stock. The cassava and sugar beets seem to afford 
a parallel in this case. 
* 
Thursday, December 6, was the day set for the dis¬ 
cussion of the Grout bill, but an arrangement was 
made to take up the Army bill first. This did not 
mean that the Grout bill is in danger, but it was 
thought best to dispose of the Army bill at that time. 
This bill finally passed. There was a lively debate 
over the following section: 
The sale of or dealing in beer, wine or any intoxicating 
liquors by. any person in any post, exchange or canteen 
or army transport, or upon any premises used for mili¬ 
tary purposes by the United States, is hereby prohibited. 
The Secretary of War is hereby directed to carry the 
provisions of this section into full force and effect. 
Probably most of our readers are familiar with the 
previous attempt to abolish or prohibit the army can¬ 
teen. Congress attempted to stop the sale of liquor 
in army camps but the Attorney General, by what 
seemed to many people a very narrow and partisan 
decision, practically nullified the law. It would seem 
impossible for anyone to get around the section 
printed above. We do not intend to make any argu¬ 
ment against the canteen here. We mention the mat¬ 
ter because a very large proportion of those who de¬ 
mand this law are farmers and country people. There 
was an uprising of moral sentiment so strong that 
Congress did not dare to oppose it. The lesson is very 
clear. Congress is always afraid of the country vote, 
and when the farmers of this country boldly and for¬ 
cibly demand what is honestly due them they are 
sure to obtain it. 
* 
The horseless carriage has received a rebuff from 
the Treasury Department, which decides that steam 
ferryboats and passenger steamers may not carry pe¬ 
troleum oils and gasoline in tank wagons; conse¬ 
quently gasoline automobiles or locomobiles must be 
carried on other than passenger boats. This action 
is taken on the score of safety. The Automobile Club 
of America is trying to have a more liberal interpre¬ 
tation put upon this law. The statute permits the use 
of petroleum, gasoline or naphtha as the motive power 
of passenger steamers, and it would seem inconsistent 
that the automobile, carrying a much smaller quan¬ 
tity of such material, should be denied transportation. 
The Treasury ruling is quite an annoyance to own¬ 
ers of automobiles in and about Manhattan Island. 
* 
The picture on page 837 is suggestive in more ways 
than one. Uncle Sam is seated at table looking over 
the bill of fare. Five items of National importance 
are offered—among them the Grout anti-oleo bill. 
What does that mean? Simply that the daily papers 
now see that public demand has raised the warfare 
against fraudulent food to the dignity of a National 
issue. The R. N.-Y. has said from the first that when 
the consumers really understand the question their 
voice and vote will be with the producers. At present 
the only people who profit by the manufacture of oleo 
are the makers and dealers. Since it is sold as butter 
the consumer is not benefited by it. It has been 
necessary to bring the trutn home to the townpeople 
who buy butter or oleo. Now that they begin to un¬ 
derstand the matter we shall hear little more about 
“class legislation.” 
fk 
Since the article on page 797, describing the sugar- 
beet farm, was printed, we have had many questions 
from dairymen concerning the value of beet pulp and 
molasses for cow feed. Progressive dairymen are al¬ 
ways on the lookout for something that will cheapen 
the cow’s ration. The Cornell Experiment Station 
people (Ithaca, N. Y.) have fed beet pulp to milch 
cows. Their bulletins will answer many questions. In 
brief, they found beet pulp a good milk-producing 
food worth about half as much as silage. The pulp 
is bulky, and it would not pay to haul it long dis¬ 
tances. As to waste molasses, we have few facts ex¬ 
cept those given by planters in Louisiana. Waste 
molasses is fed to mules m that State, keeping the 
animals in good health and saving much corn. We 
want all the information we can get regarding the 
actual feeding of pulp and molasses. It is a dairy¬ 
man’s business to hunt down and investigate reports 
of cheap cattle foods. Publicity will also help the 
beet growers. 
ft ; 
Mr. Hale’s reasons for preferring a light soil for 
peaches are worth considering. Such soils enable him 
to “feed the trees just as I wish to.” Such soils are 
better mangers for plant food. When soluble fer¬ 
tilizers are put on or into them there is no delay— 
the tree can eat at once. Trees of peach and orange 
respond quickly to feeding. A keen observer can tell 
by the appearance of the leaves when nitrogen is 
lacking. Nitrate of soda will make itself seen in the 
leaves within a few days, or even hours. There are 
no such signs to indicate the lack of potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid, and Mr. Hale says he would apply these 
minerals heavily. He would watch the tree carefully, 
and add nitrogen as needed, and the light open soil 
is best to give this nitrogen up at once. This is good 
practice for Mr. Hale, but might not answer for a 
man who is not a natural born “peach.” The average 
man would be more likely to fail than succeed with 
such methods. Are we not right? Can strong indi¬ 
vidual rules be applied to general practice? 
* 
American manufacturers are seriously invading the 
English markets. It was once the dream of English 
statesmen that England should provide clothing and 
tools for the world. Cheap food for the English mill- 
hand was a part of this dream, and so the English 
farm was neglected. Now the Yankee is not only 
feeding England, but is actually supplying more and 
more of manufactured goods! We are not surprised 
that a small body of Englishmen are again advocat¬ 
ing a tariff as a means of defence. Several years ago 
a body of English farmers advocated duties on grain 
and provisions so as to protect the English farmer. 
They received little attention. Their plan meant 
dearer food. For years England has been killing the 
farmer in order to provide cheaper food for her mill- 
hands. Now it is proposed to levy duties on iron and 
steel goods imported from this country. To that ex¬ 
tent an English tariff might be possible. It would 
not concern the farmers of America, for there is no 
danger that the English people will ever consent to 
add the cost of a tariff to the price of their food. 
* 
The item of hired help is a more important one 
than people who haven’t had extended experience 
have any idea. A very intelligent farmer told us a 
little experience of his recently. It happened that he 
was drawn on jury at the county seat. His regular 
hired man kept right along just the same, but he got 
another man to help in his absence, and hired him 
for a week before leaving home in order that he might 
be somewhat familiar with the work. After an ab¬ 
sence of nine days the farmer returned to find that 
his 15 cows had reduced their milk flow by 48 pounds 
a day, worth at the price he was getting, about 75 
cents. In four days after his return he had the flow 
up to the former amount again. It was, he said, care¬ 
lessness in milking that caused the shrinkage. How 
quickly a hired man can injure his employer to an 
amount much exceeding his wages. How easily he 
can help if he will! 
si: 
“There are two miserable rumshops in our town,” 
says a reader. “They are doing an awful damage to 
the farmers and their boys. How can we get rid of 
them? I have thought that if we could organize a 
good Grange we might be able to make some head¬ 
way against them!” That is a first-rate plan. The 
Grange is opposed to rumshops and wrong influences 
generally. It will give the better class of farmers a 
rallying point. They will get together for good gov¬ 
ernment. In some respects a Grange can do such 
work better than a church. No use talking, the coun¬ 
try rumshop is one of the most horrible enemies of 
the farm home. You cannot make much headway 
against the saloon until you provide some clean op¬ 
position place that will furnish entertainment and 
“a chance to get together.” The Grange may be 
called a congress of farm homes. It is just the thing 
to set up in a farm neighborhood against a saloon. 
Rome shop against rumshop! 
£ 
BREVITIES. 
There are too many moral dead men, who 
From early life have fought with poverty, 
Yet, blessed and helped, they won—and as they toiled 
Through the fierce heat and burden of the day. 
They vowed with all the strength of their desire, 
If God would grant them competence and home. 
To serve Him through their yet remaining years 
By standing at hard places with a hand 
To help the weak ones faltering on the way. 
They knew the bitter longing of the poor; 
They used the backs of others for their climb; 
Yet, at the taste of wealth and w r orldly power 
They put their vow behind them, and began 
Either a life of base, ignoble ease, 
Or a wild rush for wealth beyond their needs. 
Crushing the weaker ones they vowed to lift. 
What voice can reach these moral dead who lie 
Supinely on their beds of ease and bring 
The early promise back, and force them to 
Take up their bed and walk to better things? 
A good reading course is a fine thing. 
We vote to make the I more of a silent letter! 
Having made your bed—now tell the truth in it! 
Ever try a “catch crop” and find it was a snare? 
Give us lean facts—we can fatten them if need be. 
The chicken's bill of fare passes through the bill of 
fowl. 
Who says H. S. Wright is w r rong on the dry-fodder 
question? 
The treaty with England now before Congress may be 
called a Hay crop. 
There ought to be a strong organization of the cream- 
erymen of New York State. 
Certainly, my friend, there is a great difference be¬ 
tween made and virgin soils. 
Prof. John Craig, Ithaca, N. Y., wants to hear the 
troubles, or successes of New York fruit growers. 
The Southern cow-pea crop was light in many sections. 
Damp weather at picking time ruined many pods. 
The Agricultural Society of Berlin, Germany, has of¬ 
fered prizes of $100, $75 and $50 for plans of modern pig¬ 
sties. 
Our Canadian readers are showing us how stock feed¬ 
ing in their country is well rooted. Root shows are quite 
common in England. 
The practical farmer has no time to discover principles, 
and the scientist cannot do his duty and still work his. 
theories out in the soil. 
Chicago firms have been manipulating a corner in cold- 
storage eggs, from which they have already made a 
profit estimated at about $4S0,000. Great is the American 
hen! 
A Baltimore jury has found the red frankfurter sau¬ 
sage guilty of containing aniline dye. Four dealers were 
fined $10 each for selling these sausages—which blushed 
red at their own shame. 
You will find as you travel along life’s race track— 
that it’s one thing to pick and another to pack; and 
thousands of shippers show where they are lacking, when 
they quit on their picking and undertake packing. 
