868 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
December 2!) 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A Nat.uiial Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established, i 860 . 
Hehbkbt W. Collingwood, Editor. 
Du. Walter Van Fleet, ) 
H. E. Van Deman, > Associates. 
Mrs. E. T. Rotle, } 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or 8J4 marks, or 10>4 francB. 
ADVERTISING RATES. 
Thirty cents per agate line (14 lines 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, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1900. 
Do we believe in omens? Why yes—to a certain 
extent. Somehow we have found that what many peo¬ 
ple call good or bad luck comes in streaks. Apply 
force or momentum to any living or dead body and 
it will go on in a certain direction for a time at least. 
Well, what about it? We would like to test this 
omen business. Our suggestion is that we have such 
an outpouring of subscriptions on New Year’s Day 
that it will mean the largest single day’s business 
ever done by The R. N.-Y. That could safely be re¬ 
garded as a good omen for the year, and we shall see 
how it results. We look to you, and you, and you to 
pile up the returns for this New Year’s present. Here 
is a chance to turn owe men into an omen! 
• 
Where can we obtain the largest possible cow, and 
also the smallest cow? We desire this information 
for the benefit of a reader. Are we right in saying 
that a tall, long-legged Holstein, well fattened, will 
fill one end of the order? Is there anything smaller 
than the Kerry cow? Who will tell? 
* 
The R. N.-Y. has made arrangements with Prof. C. 
S. Plumb, of the Indiana Experiment Station, to 
discuss live-stocK matters for the benefit of our 
readers. He will answer questions, discuss principles 
of breeding and the various breeds and their peculiar 
places in American farming. No man in the country 
is better qualified to do this work than is Prof. Plumb. 
The R. N.-Y. has never pretended to be a special live¬ 
stock paper. Most of our readers are, however, in¬ 
terested in farm animals of some sort, and, as in every 
other department the best is none too good for R. 
N.-Y. readers. 
* 
Make a row! 
What about! The oleo bill now before the Senate. 
Word comes from Washington that the leaders have 
an “understanding,” which means that they will try 
to keep the Grout bill off the Senate calendar so that 
it will not be acted on this session. Such statements 
are often put out as feelers—to test public opinion. 
The oleo men would like to keep that bill in the com¬ 
mittee—wasting valuable time in so-called “hearings” 
until the session has ended. We say therefore “Make 
a row!” Bring every possible influence to bear upon 
your Senator and the chairman of the agricultural 
committee, Hon. Redfield Proctor. Get mad! Melt 
your feelings at red heat. Mold them into the form 
of a strong letter and send it in at once. Make a row! 
Make it right now. 
* 
So far as we can learn by observation, correspond¬ 
ence and fair report we judge that a great majority 
of the farmers of this country are opposed to the plan 
of paying subsidies to ship owners. The plan is to 
pay bounties out of the public funds to the owners 
of American vessels. The theory is that the cost of / 
building and navigating American ships is greater 
than similar costs for British ships. The proposed 
subsidies or bounties are to make up this difference. 
We do not give the details of this scheme now, but 
we go on record as opposed to the general plan of 
forcing the entire people to pay the expenses of 
promoting a single branch of industry. It is true that 
a large proportion of our exports are agricultural 
products. So far as we know it is not claimed that 
these shipping bounties are expected to reduce freight 
rates. Even if this were done no one claims that such 
reduction would increase the price which the farmer 
receives for his product. If our manufacturers and 
mechanics can underbid the world on locomotives and 
other machinery or materials, we see no reason why 
they need help in ship building! The vehicle which 
runs over the road from the farm to the railroad is of 
more importance to the farmer than the ship which 
carries his crop away from the country. He does not 
call for bounties on improved wagons or roads, yet is 
not the home end of the route just as important as 
the other? 
* 
The question of retaining or abolishing the “Army 
Canteen” or Government liquor shop has become a 
matter of National importance. Originally few people 
took any particular interest in the matter, but the 
persistent protest of a few earnest people has at last 
created what one Congressman calls “a moral uprising 
of the people.” A remarkable feature of it all is that 
this “uprising’ has been managed and brought about 
chiefly by non-voters—women—who have tnus given 
a striking example of the force and power that may 
be exerted by the combined homes of America. Such 
things should make every thoughtful American more 
hopeful of the future of his country. It shows what 
the common people of this country can do when they 
drop partisan feeling and work earnestly together for 
some worthy purpose. The Republic is stronger for 
every effort of this sort. 
* 
One old friend, in renewing his subscription, says: 
“Perhaps you think I am not looking out for your 
interests, but you must remember that Noah preached 
for 120 years without making a convert!’’ 
When the results from a crop of water were ap¬ 
parent Noah could not possibly accommodate the 
people who ran to him for shelter. For years The 
R. N.-Y. has advocated the plan of growing water— 
in the form of fruits, vegetables, choice dairy pro¬ 
ducts and flowers. The Ruby Queen rose for example, 
is mostly water colored or painted by Nature. When 
the neighbors see it in bloom, or when they see some 
of The R. N.-Y.’s suggestions expanded into profit 
on your farm, they will be more anxious to get into 
the Ark. In the meantime our advice to readers is to 
imitate Noah and “keep at ’em!” Another thing—be 
sure to get your own subscription in before Jan¬ 
uary 1. 
a. 
That famous bee case of Utter vs. Utter came up 
for trial in Orange Co., N. Y., last week, and the bees 
won. The Utters appear to be unbrotherly brothers 
who have long spoken unutterable things of each 
other. One is a beekeeper and the other a peach 
grower, who claimed that his brother’s bees ruined his 
peaches. A suit before a justice of the peace resulted 
in a verdict against the beekeeper. The case was ap¬ 
pealed and the National Bee Keeper’s Association took 
it up, and sent a swarm of witnesses to defend the 
bees. Prof. Frank Benton of the National Agricultural 
Department was a strong witness. Among other ex¬ 
hibits he had a box containing 19 insects placed side 
by side. They were much alike in appearance, yet 
only five of them were bees. When witnesses told how 
they saw bees eating sound peaches they were asked 
to pick out the bees in the box. They were badly mixed 
up, and in most cases picked out insects that were 
not bees at all! There was little left of the peach 
grower’s case, and the jury brought in a verdict 
against him in 15 minutes. Now then, let the bee 
alone! 
-To our mind the managers of tne New York State 
Dairymen’s Association are making an error in con¬ 
fining the officials of the Association so closely to 
officials of the State Agricultural Department. It is 
true that these men took up the affairs of the Asso¬ 
ciation when it was in rather a dilapitated condition, 
and by their own work, and to some extent by the 
expenditure of their own money, have put the Asso¬ 
ciation on its feet, and made a success of it for the 
last three years. They are men who have the dairy 
interests of the State at heart, and many of them are 
among the best practical dairymen and dairy 
authorities in the State, but it seems to us that dairy¬ 
men of the State outside of the department work are 
getting into the way of leaving too much to these 
State officials. It is not always best for us to have too 
much done for us. A little effort, a little struggle, 
and a few trials to overcome for ourselves, have 
a tendency to make us more self reliant, more in¬ 
dependent, and better calculated to develop the man. 
Neither the annual nor the life membership of the 
Association is anything like what it ought to be. The 
attendance at the vVaWtown meeting was certainly 
a disappointment. It is a constant struggle for the 
officials to secure funds enough to pay the legitimate 
expenses of the annual convention, and the officials 
have of course served without compensation. In the 
case of the secretary, Mr. Hall, who was obliged to 
give considerable of his time to the work, this duty 
is something of a burden, which few people would 
probably be willing to assume even for the honors of 
the position. With no greater interest than is now 
manifested in the Association by the dairymen of the 
State, it would probably go to pieces without the 
assistance and work of the men connected with the 
Agricultural Department. The State needs an asso¬ 
ciation of the kind, but it will fall short of its legi¬ 
timate mission unless it can secure a larger member¬ 
ship and more direct support from the working dairy¬ 
men of the State. Possibly it would be well to reduce 
the annual membership fees to 50 cents, or at least to 
$1 for two years, and appeal to the State for a small 
appropriation to help out at the annual meetings, but 
no appropriation or heip from the State will give life 
or vigor or energy to the Association without the 
annual membership, and interest of the practical 
working dairymen. 
* 
The oleo people are having a sad time these days. 
For example, this is what the National Provisioner 
says: 
If the Grout bill should pass the House we are reason¬ 
ably assured that the Senate will strangle or kill it. 
If it should pass Congress we feel that the President will 
lind it so vicious and unconstitutional as to veto so 
pernicious a measure. Should the President affix his sig¬ 
nature the Supreme Court, upon petition, should certainly 
declare such a piece of legislation illegal and unconstitu¬ 
tional in many respects, and subversive of healthful trade. 
It’s too bad there isn’t some higher power than the 
Supreme Court to give tne poor Grout bill a death 
blow. From what we learn we judge that the bill 
will be passed by the Senate. Certainly it will if the 
farmers keep up their present outpouring of demand 
for it. Should it pass the Senate we do not believe 
that the President would uare to veto it, even were he 
inclined to do so. The principle of taxation was 
established in the present oleo law which taxes this 
product at the rate of two cents a pound. 
BREVITIES. 
I've seen afflicted people stand J 
And curse their fortune to beat all, 
When like enough ’twas their own hand 
That pulled them downward in their fall. 
They wore their trouble like a shade 
Before their eyes, to hide the light, 
And let affliction take a spade 
To bury blessings out of sight. 
And I've seen others stricken down 
And fastened with a galling chain 
Laugh bravely back at Fortune’s frown 
And cover up the grief and pain 
As best they could, and toil along, 
Responsive to their duty's call 
And yet among the busy throng 
They were the envied, after all. 
And why? Because affliction’s hand 
Laid bare life's hidden springs, and they 
Were better lit to understand 
The happiness for which men pray. 
Save a farm for your country! 
Silage is good for breeding sows. 
Box rather than barrel for fine apples. 
We have ordered some of that waste beet molasses for 
a feeding experiment. 
Peach growers are coming forward to take up Mr. 
Stringfellow’s challenge. 
Say of others what you would like others to say truth¬ 
fully of you, or keep quiet. 
“There are no trusts!” Try to borrow goods or money 
without security, and see if that isn’t right. 
“Money makes the mare go!” Yes, and there are many 
cases where the world would be better off if the mare 
stood still. 
Are you acquainted with farmers who act as Govern¬ 
ment crop reporters? Do they know their business? Are 
they accurate men? 
Beet pulp is a “powerful feed” In one sense. It burst 
the hoops off a round silo. The lateral pressure is far 
greater than that of silage. 
A barrel of Illinois Ben Davis apples sold in Paris 
for $10. What do we think of that? Well, we could use 
the proceeds from 500 such barrels right now. 
A tile is a drain and also “a stiff hat.” Are these 
meanings alike? Yes, an exaggerated idea of the dignity 
gained by wearing a stiff hat drains the head of sense! 
Score one more for cow peas. At the Missouri Ex 
periment Station rabbits did not gnaw fruit trees when 
cow-peas vines were at hand. In orchards where no peas 
were grown the trees suffered. 
Young woman, I would have you know, 
There should be two strings to your beau. 
His mother’s apron strings well tied, 
Will safely anchor any bride. 
There was an excellent article last week on the “kick 
in the incubator egg. There is often another sort of 
“kick” in such eggs—the bird grows up with It—a living 
protest against the injustice of breeding from scrubs. 
Selling eggs by weight, a plan often advocated in the 
past, is now advised by the National Department of 
Agriculture. The difference in bulk of eggs laid by differ¬ 
ent hens Is the principal reason for the adoption of such 
a plan. The advantage of the present system is Its con¬ 
venience, as it does not require the handling of eggs on 
the scales. ...— 
