1902 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
193 
hope farm notes 
Home Notes.— The heavy snow was fol¬ 
lowed by a heavier rain. The floods in 
the valleys swept away (along- with other 
valuable property), all the big stories of 
former storms. We hill farmers contrib¬ 
uted a good share of the water, but it 
cut and gashed the bare hills badly on 
its way down. This weather is quite 
enough to drive uncomfortable country 
people to insanity. I mean by “uncom¬ 
fortable'” those who cannot or will not 
try to drop cross-grained and hateful 
deeds and words out in the weather when 
they come inside the four walls of home. 
The good old poets who lived and died 
years ago, often in sorrow and privations, 
were made for just such days as we are 
now passing through. We read their 
words over and over again, and while 
they do not tell us how to raise more 
potatoes or corn they lift us away out of 
the mud of New Jersey, and make life 
worth living.Our cellar has 
gone through the floods successfully. 
Formerly the water stood several Inches 
deep all over it at this season. We dug 
a drain from the northeast corner and 
put in a four-inch tile. The floor was 
then covered with cement, so as to give 
a gentle slope to this drain from all parts 
of the cellar. The water still comes in 
through one side of the wall, but runs 
out at once through the tile. There is 
also a circulation of air through the tile 
which helps the cellar.The 
whooping cough patients are progressing 
better than we expected. It broke up the 
little school for two weeks, but now it 
has opened again. On the advice of one 
of the best throat specialists in the city 
we spray the throat and nostrils several 
times a day with “Meditrina” diluted with 
water, and smear the nostrils with a medi¬ 
cal paste. 
Insurance. —The great fire in Paterson, 
N. J., seems to have frightened most of 
the large insurance companies. When I 
came to insure the new cottage I found 
that the company I preferred had decided 
to take no more risks on country property. 
I found another company ready to insure, 
but the tendency among them is to with¬ 
draw from farm property. There ought to 
be some discrimination in this matter, for 
surely some farmhouses are better risks 
than others, but I believe that sooner or 
later we shall be obliged to organize co¬ 
operative insurance companies for our own 
protection. We have a mutual company 
in this county patronized chiefly by farm¬ 
ers which is successful. I carry insurance 
on my buildings, also on personal property 
and on tools. I have my life insured and 
would insure the stock if I could find a 
sound company to insure them. I believe 
in insurance! As I look out at the rain 
I wish I had lived up to my belief and cov¬ 
ered all the hillside cornfield with a cover 
crop last Fall! The water is gashing that 
hill badly. If it were only bandaged with 
grain and grass or even with Crimson 
clover there would be more blood In the 
farm this Spring. 
The Outlook.— March has come, and it’s 
time to think over the year’s plans. In 
spite of the present mud and slush there 
will soon come a time of dry, warm soil. 
What shall we do? The price of feed has 
frightened me. I do not look for cheap 
grain for several years. We can no longer 
afford to raise sweet corn to sell in market 
fur cash to buy western grain. 1 became 
satisfied last Fall that it does not pay us 
to try to raise potatoes on soil that is nat¬ 
urally adapted to grass and fruit. I gave 
up potato growing on the hillside last Fall, 
and seeded about 16 acres to wheat and 
rye with grass. These are mostly what 
I call “loafer fields,” which were in bad 
condition when we came here, but have 
had two years of cow peas and culture. 
They are still pretty rough and rocky but 
the grain looks well thus far. Some of the 
wheat will be cut green for hay. The rest 
of it and the rye will be cut for grain. 
These fields will eventually be planted in 
.apples and peaches. 
Spring Grain.— The wheat and the rye 
will help, but I want more grain—I feel 
sure it will be valuable. While oats give a 
fair crop on rich ground I do not believe 
our locality is well suited to them. A field 
of about four acres at the brow of the 
hill was in corn last year and, to my pres¬ 
ent regret, we did not sow either rye or 
turnips and clover in the corn. It is now 
bare to the storm. I want to get it into 
Alfalfa if I possibly can. Will Alfalfa 
grow well on that hillside? I am frank to 
say that I do not know—for the crop is a 
new one to me. The successful fields of 
it that I have seen have been on level 
ground. My present idea is to sow beard¬ 
less barley on that hillside as early as I 
can, and sow Alfalfa seed with the barley. 
If this barley promises any yield of grain 
I will cut and thrash it; if not, cut it 
early for hay. Would I do better to throw 
out the barley entirely and sow Alfalfa 
alone? These are some of the problems 
that confront a man who starts with a 
new crop and wishes to start right! Can l 
seed down to Alfalfa or grass with a crop 
of oats and peas? Should I add barley to the 
oats and peas? Some farmers say yes and 
others say no—each one apparently right 
from his own experience. I shy at some 
of this advice, because I have seen some 
of my own advice grow up into a crop of 
failure on another's farm. I want more 
grain and fodder this year and for some 
vears to come, and I would like it on that 
hill. 
The Lower Ground.— But why on the 
hill? Because I am at last convinced that 
by draining and grading the lower part of 
the farm I can grow my money crops there 
on intensive culture. I want those hills 
to feed the lower farm until they get into 
fruit. We can feed out Alfalfa, cornstalks 
and grain, and use the manure on the 
lower fields, and sell hay, fruit, cabbage, 
potatoes and other crops. Then you will 
not give up potatoes entirely? I will give 
them another trial on lower land and with 
better care than we have ever before at¬ 
tempted. Not over two acres of potatoes 
this year, but 10 acres of work on them! 
Philip will try his hand at a good-sized 
garden. The chief crops for sale will be 
onions, celery and late cabbage. The home 
garden will be put in the large chicken 
yard—the hens of course being shut out 
as planting begins. Do we expect to equal 
the profits on a single acre that were pic¬ 
tured by Mr. Allen last week? No, we do 
not. Why not? Because we don't know 
how to do it. The man who did it has been 
in the business for years, and knows just 
what to do at every turn. We shall come 
as near to it as we can, and hope to Inch 
along a little nearer every year. 
All Sorts.— Philip has started early 
celery (White Plume) in flats. The pansy 
seed is in pots and a few cabbage and 
lettuce are going. The hotbeds will be 
started about March 15. With all this 
storm and flood I look for a late Spring. 
.... The Crimson clover is alive. That 
sown with turnips and rape last year is 
very vigorous. I have sown it among 
broadcast cow peas in August and had it 
grow well after the cow peas died. It was 
sown just before a rain which washed the 
seed off the cow pea vines into the ground. 
.... One of the most useful things a 
farmer can have in the barn is a barrel of 
crude petroleum. We use ours for spray¬ 
ing, for coating the iron work of tools, for 
sores and wounds on the stock, and in 
place of the first coat of paint on old ouild- 
ings. We painted the hogpens with it and 
killed the lice. We tried to make a lead 
paint out of it by using plenty or drier, but 
this did not work. Tnere are uses enough 
for it, however. It will greatlv help rheu¬ 
matism. The Indians used it long before 
white men knew what it was—skimming it 
from ponds and low places in the present 
oil regions.The white grade sow 
gave us nine good pigs. The Berkshires are 
so tame and gentle that one can handle 
their pigs without a protest from their 
mothers. We thought we were on the best 
of terms with Clara, but when Philip got 
into the pen to help one feeble little fel¬ 
low we found the good feeling was mostly 
on our side. One little pig squealed, and 
Clara was on her feet like a tiger—striking 
right and left. She stepped on two pigs 
and killed them before we could quiet her. 
I have known human mothers before now 
who put up such a foolish fight over their 
children when those with more wisdom 
tried to correct them that the best things 
in the children were killed. h. w. c. 
RODERICK LEAN tools most desi¬ 
rable. Read this letter, then write us. 
Applkton, N. Y., Jan. 5, HHPi. 
Roderick Lean Mpo. Co., Manstlehl, Ohio. 
Ok.s ri.KNiK.s—Please give me price on one section of I he 
" A" Harrow. I have one of your two-section (fiO tecth) 
smoothing harrow s, and w ould like another. I can j list as 
well draw a HO as 60 teeth, iqid that would mean quite a little 
saving oi time to me. Yours truly, John N. Bidlkman. 
Spring and Spike Tooth Harrows, Rollers and Handcarts. 
RODERICK LEAN MFC. CO., MannBcld, O. 
iron Age 
Tha noma li SVC irrntrn 
So. IS 
Iron Age 
Combined 
Single Wheel 
Hoe. Hill and 
So. 12 
Iron Age 
Wheel Plow 
and Cultivator 
The name has grown 
in fame since 1836. Farmers have 
grown In enterprise since then. Iron 
Age implements have helped 
Uriu Seeder, make crops larger, expense 
smaller. There’s a 
long line of Iron 
Age tools—for farm 
and garden work— 
every one a winner I 
They are fully described in the 
Iron Age Book lor 1902 
It will give you ideas. It shows the tools by large, accurate 
wood engravings, “just as they are,” gives prices and all 
details. Whether you have a quarter acre garden 
or a great big farm you can find the tools you 4 
need described in this book. It Is Free. 
1 BATEMAN MFG. CO., 
Box 102 
Grenloch, N. J. 
So. S 
Iron Age 
Horae Hoe 
and Cultivator 
No. 70 Iron Age 
Combined Pitot 
and Fixed Wheel 
Riding Cultivator 
A Wonderful Offer 
WEEDER 
SUCCESS 
Anti- 
Clog 
Sent on trial to any fanner who cannot get one 
from his dealer. More than 60,000 now on the 
farms of the United States. The tool is an ab¬ 
solute necessity on every farm. 
•I would not take $100 for ray Success Weoder 
if I could not get another.’’—FRANK UNGER, 
North Collins, N Y 
prices and descriptive circulars sent promptly on request. 
HALLOCK WEEDER COMPANY, YORK, PA. 
BEST ON EAPTH 
YOU SAVE MONEY 
In huyiug the LOUDEN GOODS. They work 
better, easier and last longer. No jumping 
track by door hangers, nor break-downs of 
hay tools In harvest— if you use the _ 
Louden. Don’t fail to get our catalogue show¬ 
ing scores of articles needed on the form and 
ranch. Hay Carriers, Hay SUngs, Hay Forks, Hay 
Stackers. Utter Carriers, Ice Tools, Holsts, Wire Stretch 
era, Ladders, Door Hangers, Door Latches, Hardware 
Specialties, etc. Also How to Build Hay Barns and Sheds. 
Address, LOUDEN UACHIHERT CO., Dipt J Fllrfltld, Ion. 
To Raise Potatoes for Profit 
you require a DORSCII HILLER and DIG¬ 
GER. No other implement lillla and digs so per¬ 
fectly, so easily, with such little labor. Practically 
two Implements in one, and for the price of one. Hil¬ 
ler with wheel, §i5.8!4. Hiller and 
digger attachment, 87.76. 
JOHN D0RSCH& SONS, 
226Wells St„ 8<, "‘ 00 
Milwaukee, Wis. approval 
itnd for Catalog 
Dateriblng our 
Full 
SEE THE SEED DROP. 
In plain sight of tho operator. 
MATTHEWS'' 
New Universal 
(Improved for 1902) 
HAND SEEDERS 
AND__ 
CULTIVATORS. 
U«d by the ino«t»uccts»- 
ful gardener*. They do 
perfect work. Open fur¬ 
row, drop seed, cover sny 
desired depth. Cuhiva- 
tlnifsttlchmentd. Latest 
And best. Popular price.. 
AMES PLOW C0„ 
54 Market St. BOSTOI. 
Cider Machinery.—Send for catalogue to Boomer & 
Boschert Press Co., 118 West Water St., Syracuse,N.Y 
Eureka Potato Planter. 
NONE AS GOOD. 
Plants correctly cut 
or uncut seed, with 
or without fertilizer. 
Nothing l ike it. Light— 
for one horse. Easy for 
the operator. Small in price. 
Send.for Cornell test on po¬ 
tato culture showing our 
planter better than other machines 
or hand planting. Descriptive Circular free. 
EUREKA MOWER CO., Utica, N. Y. 
Not too Modest- 
just Modest Enough 
Id OUR MOTTO. 
Hence we have no 
hesitation In say¬ 
ing that our 
Drag Sawing 
Outfits 
are simply “out of 
sight.” 
SEND FOR FREE 
CATALOGUE. 
St. Albans Foundry & Implement Co., St. Albans, Vt. 
100 SIZES. 
GRAIN AND 
FERTILIZER. 
ESPECIALLY VALUABLE to the farmer who 
wishes to drill Corn, Peas, Beans, 
etc. Will not clog in trash or foul 
ground. Full particulars about this and other 
Superior Implements In Catalogue No. 71. Write 
for it; it’s FREE. A postal-card will bring It. 
THE SUPERIOR. DRILL CO 
SPRINGFIELD. OHIO. 
PRACTICE ECONOMY WITH THE HORSE. 
In other words, use the “PlanetJr.” Horse Hoe No. 8. It is undoubtedly the most popu¬ 
lar cultivating machine made; light aud easy to handle, and at the same time wonderfully 
strong. With its numerous attachments this tool is suited to almost every variety ot cuttiva- 
| tion. The wheel lever controls the wheel and the depth perfectly. 1 he expanding 
lever controls width of cultivation. The material in this tool is the very best, and the 
I workmanship up to the high standard we have always maintained. Attachments can be adjusted 
quickly and easily. Do you know about our line of "Planet Jr.” Hill and Drill Seeders 
Single and Double Wheel Hoes, Two-horse Cultivators, Orchard and Universal Cultivators, 
Sugar Beet Tools, etc.? Our new catalogue illustrates and describes them all. We want 
you to send for it. It is free. We print hundreds of thousands of these, but they go quickly. 
S. L. ALLEN & CO., Box 1107 V PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
Two Gold Medals at Paris Exposition; Highest Award 
~7J^ 
HORSE 
ffOE 
