258 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 5 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Home*. 
Established I 860 . 
Herbert W. Collincwood, Editor. 
DR. WALTER Van FLEET, (.Associates 
Mrs. E. T. Hoyle, ^ Associates. 
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 marks, or francs. 
shortening the life of our American plants. Our 
greatest hope seems now to lie in securing from the 
famous asparagus gardens of France the resistant va¬ 
rieties they have been so long cultivating. Those who 
have tested the true stock claim the Argenteuil as¬ 
paragus to be less injured by rust than any of our 
local varieties. Should this prove to be generally the 
case, and our supply of this most acceptable vegetable 
restored, the National exchange of vine for asparagus 
will certainly be no robbery, but a great and satisfac¬ 
tory gain for all parties concerned. 
• 
“A SQUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement in this paper is 
backed by a responsible person. But to make doubly 
sure we will make good any loss 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 we 
do not guarantee to adjust trilling dili'erences between 
subscribers and honest responsible advertisers. Neither 
will we be responsible for the debts of honest bankrupts 
sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint must 
be sent us within one month of the time of the trans¬ 
action, and you must have mentioned The Rural New- 
Yorker when writing the advertiser. 
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, APRIL 5, 1902. 
Grant G. Hitchtngs gives us an idea of the cost of 
cultivating his orchard with a mowing machine! It 
is now in order for some of the soil stirrers to tell us 
how much it costs to grow a bushel of apples, is Mr. 
Hitchings a theorist only? He started 12 years ago 
with 100 trees and a mortgage. He now has 2,900 
trees of all kinds, and the mortgage has turned into 
a bank account. Then we are all to follow Mr. Hitch- 
ings’s plan? No, sir! Not until you know it is best 
for your soil and conditions! In spite of what the 
cultivating experts tell us, there is no one way of han¬ 
dling an orchard. 
* 
We have letters from men who think they see 
chances for bettering their fortunes in Cuba. Some 
of them want to work their way down on steamers or 
ships, and start without money. We have one word 
of advice—DON’T! Cuba is no place for a poor man. 
There are too many natives left poor by the Spanish 
War. The northern man without money would be 
worse than a fish out of water on the Island. He 
would be more like a fish in the frying pan. Keep 
away from Cuba if you expect to pick up money there. 
The same advice applies to most of the “develop¬ 
ment” companies which want your money. 
* 
A man who offers to appoint a traveling salesman 
for a reputable milling company is one of the recent 
swindlers reported from the farming districts of the 
Middle West. He demands a considerable cash de¬ 
posit as guarantee of good faith, which is, of course, 
lost to the unfortunate depositor, as the receiver has 
no connection whatever with the firm he professes to 
represent. His procedure is to advertise for traveling 
salesmen; then, later, to call upon those who respond 
to the advertisement, and make final arrangements to 
secure their money. One of these confidence men re¬ 
cently met with a check to his career in Indiana, 
where an intelligent farmer wisely telegraphed to the 
firm that the swindler referred to, before handing over 
his money, and this particular operator is not likely 
to be at large again very shortly. Advertisements for 
traveling agents often prove, on investigation, to pos¬ 
sess the ear-marks of those “easy-work-at-home” 
schemes that lure sorely-needed pennies from the lean 
purses of hard-working women and girls. 
* 
There have been many notable exchanges of dip¬ 
lomatic courtesy lately between the United States and 
foreign powers. While these official civilities are very 
gratifying, they do not greatly lessen the need of the 
competing nations keeping close watch upon one an¬ 
other. Much of the modern military and commercial 
exploitation is sharp practice, such as would not be 
tolerated in the individual, and leaves bitterness be¬ 
hind. There is one form of National exchange or re¬ 
ciprocity, however, of such obvious mutual advantage 
that no one thinks of objecting, and each party feels 
itself a gainer. The interchange of economic and or¬ 
namental plants adapted for special conditions is al¬ 
ways of advantage to both sides. About 25 years ago 
the great vine industry of France was threatened with 
entire destruction by the invasion of phylloxera, 
which defied all remedies until stocks of resistant 
varieties were brought from America, to be grafted 
with the choice European kinds. This proved so suc¬ 
cessful that the great vineyards were soon restored 
and their former yield much increased. Now we are 
struggling against the Asparagus rust, which is rap¬ 
idly sweeping away the profits of the grower, and 
The United States Senate gave the anti-oleo bill a 
thorough discussion. It was a singular exhibition. 
The friends of the bill clearly stated its true purpose, 
viz., to “legislate the fraud out of oleo.” Some of the 
best constitutional lawyers pointed out the right of 
Congress to protect the public from fraud. Against 
this, the opponents of the bill could only claim that it 
would destroy a “legitimate industry!” These men 
are very careful to dodge the fact that the present 
oleo bill will enable the manufacturer to sell the un¬ 
colored oleo at a fair margin, while it will not permit 
him to sell a counterfeit at a profit. Some one told 
the story of the rumseller who was convicted and 
fined again and again for selling liquor. At last the 
justice asked him how much longer he expected to 
keep it up. The answer was: “As long as there is an 
eight-cent profit in a 10-cent drink!” There, in a nut¬ 
shell, is the argument against the plan of stopping the 
oleo rogues by means of fines and local regulations. 
While there is a 10-cent profit in selling a pound of 
eight-cent fat, such restrictions will never answer! 
* 
Indian corn must be ranked as a money crop on 
eastern farms this year. Wheat is considered such a 
crop, yet at present prices an acre of corn will bring 
more than an acre of wheat—to say nothing of the 
value of the stalks. It is no longer true that one full 
crop year will bring down the price to the old-time 
level, because the demand for corn is greater than 
ever before. The export trade is now large enough to 
affect the retail price, and it will probably increase, 
since Europeans have learned to eat corn. All these 
things help to change the situation for the eastern 
farmer. On some farms, where formerly it did not 
pay to plant corn, the crop must be grown now as a 
matter of economy. Corn is a crop that adapts itself 
quite well to almost any soil, provided an abundance 
of plant food is supplied. It is the crop on which the 
stable manure is used, but it responds freely to high- 
grade fertilizers also. This is a fortunate thing for 
some eastern farmers, who have use for all their 
stable manure, for by using fertilizers freely they can 
grow good corn on old meadows or pastures. With 
corn at its lowest price, they could not afford to do 
this, but this year there will be good profit in it. 
* 
Last Winter we made some remarks about the do¬ 
ings of a so-called seed company. Agents of this con¬ 
cern were abroad in the land, trying to sell stock in 
an enterprise which promised vast profits on paper. 
It was a scheme for building cooperative stores and 
granaries all over the country, so that farmers could 
sell at the highest figure and buy at the lowest. Of 
course, the thing was impossible. Yet, in spite of con¬ 
stant warning, these promoters actually obtained 
many subscriptions for shares. In one Hudson River 
county it was reported that $60,000 worth of the stock 
was subscribed for. Under another name, the con¬ 
cern used the columns of certain farm papers to push 
its schemes. At one point in the Hudson Valley the 
company agreed to build a “storehouse” in January, 
but thus far only a small pile of stones and one car¬ 
load of lumber have appeared. We are informed 
that some of those who signed for stock have organ¬ 
ized, and are prepared to make a fight. They have 
hired a good lawyer and have notified the so-called 
company that they intend to withdraw. That is well 
enough, but why did they agree to take the stock in 
the first place? Five minutes’ thought should have 
convinced any sensible man that the scheme out¬ 
lined by these promoters cannot be carried out. 
Think of it for a moment! Here were irresponsible 
strangers, without capital or financial credit, who 
promised to build up a great commercial enterprise 
which would require millions merely to put it in oper¬ 
ation! Of course, we understand that these promoters 
are about the most plausible talkers that ever oiled a 
tongue with words. We also know the desperation 
with which many farmers face the future and grasp 
at any proffered scheme. It is one of the saddest 
things in modern society that the strong and the un¬ 
scrupulous will combine to fleece the poor and the 
credulous. Under some circumstances a man should 
be forced to stand by his agreement, but in cases of 
this sort we hold that farmers are fully justified in 
withdrawing and refusing to pay for stock which 
would be worthless anyway. We warn our friends 
everywhere that the promoters of this so-called farm¬ 
ers’ company of Buffalo are good men to let alone. 
* 
We often receive samples of plants suffering from 
some fungous disease, accompanied by harmless in¬ 
sects, which were found near by. The observers 
usually conclude that the insects are responsible for 
the trouble, when really they have nothing to do with 
it. Did it ever occur to you that much of the damage 
and sorrow of life are due to this very thing of mix¬ 
ing up cause and effect? 
* 
Throughout the great apple regions of the West 
and Southwest “dust sprayers” are being largely used. 
Dry mixtures of lime and sulphate of copper are blown 
with force upon the trees. The work is done while 
the trees are moist—usually in the early morning. 
This practice is the result of a demand for something 
to take the place of liquid spraying. Many orchards 
are located in sections where water is scarce during 
the dry season. It is hard to obtain enough of it for 
use just when most needed. Much of the soil is rough 
and hilly so that it is next to impossible to haul heavy 
loads of water about, to say nothing of the time spent 
in going for it. The “dust spraying” permits far more 
rapid work, gives a lighter load and is cheaper. Most 
orchardists we think use the dust from necessity rath¬ 
er than from choice. It seems to be more effective 
against fungous diseases than against insects. The 
trouble thus far has been to find a machine that will 
blow the dust properly. We shall give, next week, 
the best information obtainable regarding this “dust¬ 
ing.” 
The farm labor problem seems to get harder each 
year. Let a man run a farm on Cape Cod and he will 
find that expert farm hands are harder to obtain than 
anything else that good farming demands. Let him 
go straight to California, and he will find about the 
same story. California farmers are surprised to learn 
that eastern farmers are crying for help—well trained 
help! We have daily letters from people all over the 
North who fairly beg for men and women who are 
dependable. This lack of skilled helpers is actually 
changing the plan of farming in many sections. Farm¬ 
ers find that by using fertilizers and complicated ma¬ 
chinery they can alone or with little help work their 
farms fairly well—with grass, grain or fruit—often 
selling the latter on the trees. It is true that the use 
of fertilizers and machinery have enlarged the possi¬ 
bilities of one-man farming, yet it frequently hap¬ 
pens that the farms on which this plan is followed are 
naturally suited to the crops which demand hand 
labor. If this failure to obtain skilled help were con¬ 
fined to any particular sections it might be accounted 
for, but, so far as we know, there is no part of the 
country where the supply equals the demand. In 
theory one would think that the short courses at our 
agricultural colleges would be crowded with boys and 
hired men eager to fit themselves for more useful 
work. If something of that sort could be brought 
about such colleges would truly prove a blessing to 
farmers, for without skilled and really helpful help¬ 
ers the farmer is often unable to utilize fully the 
scientific information so freely given him. 
* 
BREVITIES. 
Let the hybridizers take hold of clover! 
The orts from good silage are nearly ought. 
What are the facts about feeding silage to hogs? 
Conscience may be a convenience or an encumbrance. 
Not many weeds in Mr. Morse’s garden department! 
Don't wait for the spirit to move you—go and move 
the spirit! 
A buckwheat cake-eating contest is reported from In¬ 
diana. The winner ate 97 cakes! 
When from their duty mortals seek to squirm the time 
has come for some one to be firm. 
A legal bushel of beans in New York State is GO 
pounds—except by special agreement. 
According to the last census, bees are kept by one 
farmer in eight throughout the country. 
The Elberta peach craze may fill the stomachs of the 
consumers, but there will be empty pockets somewhere. 
The New York Mercantile Exchange has decided to per¬ 
mit dealing in “egg futures.” Does this include chickens? 
You are quite likely to find 50 people who will find fault 
after your mistake is made to one who will give helpful 
advice before you make it. 
Why should salt scattered over green hay or on shred¬ 
ded dry fodder help to keep it in good condition? It does 
two things—absorbs moisture from the fodder and pre¬ 
vents ferments or bacterial action. 
The Oregon Food Commissioner recently seized some 
so-called “evaporated cream” which only contained six 
per cent of fat. It was “doctored” to make it white, and 
the label announced that it was “guaranteed strictly 
pure!” 
Some of the brewers are suggesting that we retaliate 
for German restrictions shutting out American meats by 
forbidding the importation of German beer, on the ground 
that it contains boracic acid. It is, however, quite easy 
to avoid risk of injury from this source. 
