35o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 17 
two wing covers. We must not become elated too 
easily, but we surely have reason to watch with in¬ 
terest the outcome of this wise yet costly insect im¬ 
portation. H. E. VAN DEMAN. 
" COMMERCIALISM " AMONG DOCTORS. 
It is reported that the physicians in several thickly 
populated counties of Pennsylvania are about to com¬ 
bine in a credit league for the purpose of better col¬ 
lecting their accounts, which implies the establish¬ 
ment of the detestable “blacklist” and other features 
exploited by the commercial trusts but unworthy the 
honorable profession of medicine. It is true the con¬ 
scientious doctor is much tried by selfish and thought¬ 
less patients who never hesitate to monopolize his 
time and skill, yet defer payment as long as possible, 
using every subterfuge to avoid a settlement Sick¬ 
ness and accident are unavoidable misfortunes visit¬ 
ing the poor and needy more often than the well-to- 
do, and the true physician never hesitates to render 
every possible service to the unfortunate, regardless 
of his own convenience or the probability of future 
reward; at least this was the professional spirit be¬ 
fore the days of medical trade unionism as embodied 
in the exclusive and un-American State examination 
laws now in force in most States of the Union. These 
examinations greatly enhance the cost of a medical 
education, and as they are frequently conceived in a 
narrow and partisan spirit, do not ensure the public 
a better service, while greatly hampering the medical 
graduate in his ability to choose a favorable location. 
The examinations are not uniform in the different 
States, and registry in one State does not necessarily 
give the privilege of removing to another without 
troublesome and expensive preparation. The result 
is to limit opportunities and encourage a caste feeling 
likely to diminish the physician’s sympathy with hu¬ 
manity, except from a purely commercial standpoint. 
The physician is usually self-made, and beyond a rea¬ 
sonable collegiate and practical training nothing Is 
gained by long and expensive compulsory preparation. 
Some of the best medical work the world has ever 
seen is done by the country doctors of America, many 
of whom are farmers’ sons. For real insight into hu¬ 
man physical needs, quick and ready sympathy, genu¬ 
ine charity and ever-ready skill, based on hard com¬ 
mon sense and intelligent training, the American 
country doctor of farmer origin has never been 
equalled. Such men do not need a credit league—they 
do not exist for the purpose of grinding out the last 
cent the hard necessity of their customers enables 
them to charge. Such doctors are indispensable, and 
get along fairly well without a “black list,” which, in 
this case, means the refusal of assistance in their 
hour of bitter need to the unlucky or improvident. 
These methods may do for unfeeling commercialism, 
but the enlightened profession of medicine should 
always avoid them. w. v. f. 
THE CENTRALIZED COUNTRY SCHOOL 
The Law in Various States. 
We have been asked many questions about the laws 
governing the country district schools. Have the school 
officers the right to close such a school without the con¬ 
sent of a majority of taxpayers? We have compiled the 
following facts from State laws: 
Before graded schools were so plentiful country 
children were obliged to depend, for the foundation 
of their education at least, upon the district school, 
and many men and women very well informed never 
attended any other. There were now and then teach¬ 
ers exceptionally gifted. They had never attended a 
normal school, and knew little of book logic and 
psychology or methods of teaching from a scientific 
standpoint; but they had that peculiar knack with¬ 
out which no one, no matter how highly educated, 
can succeed as a teacher. They could tell what they 
knew, and, better yet, were able to stir up pupils to 
investigate for themselves in nature and wholesome 
books. But these were exceptions, and there was an 
army of incompetents, deficient in government, edu¬ 
cation or ability to teach. Many districts would not 
pay more than $2 or $3 per week without board, and 
often this was more than the work done was worth. 
The centralized school was intended as a remedy for 
this state of things. In theory it is reasonable. If 
other things are equal there is surely an advantage 
in the graded school with its trained teachers and 
systematic methods. All that can be said against 
this plan is that it works harm to individual cases in 
nearly every district. These things may be remedied 
in the future, as the plan is yet young. In some in¬ 
stances State laws evidently need amendment to se¬ 
cure equal rights to all in these consolidated districts. 
In New York a school commissioner, with the con¬ 
sent of trustees and taxpayers, may dissolve districts, 
joining them to a union free school or forming a new 
district When districts are consolidated or joined to 
a neighboring school, on a vot« of the taxpayers con¬ 
tracts may be made with responsible parties for the 
conveyance of pupils to and from this central school, 
although as the law at present reads they are not 
obliged to make such provisions. Upon petition the 
school directors of a Pennsylvania township must 
submit the question of centralization to the electors 
of the township district, and if the measure is car¬ 
ried, must provide suitable buildings, maintain a 
graded course of instruction, and are required to fur¬ 
nish transportation to all pupils living more than 
three-fourths mile distant by the nearest highway; 
but no school shall be abolished where an account of 
the geography of the district it is not practicable to 
convey pupils to the central school. In Connecticut 
I- 
LOOUST-STUNG TWIGS AFTER FIVE MONTHS. Via. 134. 
after public notice a vote may be taken to do away 
with any or all districts in the township. Then the 
selectment must call a special meeting to elect a 
school committee, which shall arrange for suitable 
buildings and courses of study. They may provide 
conveyance for pupils, the cost to be paid out of the 
town treasury on order of the selectmen. In Ver¬ 
mont schools must be located at such places and held 
at such times as in the judgment of the school direc¬ 
tors best further the interests of education, giving all 
scholars as nearly an equal advantage as practicable. 
They may provide conveyance to and from the school 
at the expense of the town when in their judgment 
they deem it advisable. In case they refuse to provide 
TWIGS SEVENTEEN YEARS FROM INJURY. Fie. 135. 
conveyance for scholars more than iy 2 mile from 
school, an appeal may be made to the selectmen of 
the town, and upon their written order the hoard 
must furnish transportation. Each township in New 
Hampshire constitutes a school district except in 
cases of special districts created by act of the Legis¬ 
lature. It is the duty of the school board to decide 
where in each town the schools shall be held, and it 
is within their power to use a portion of the school 
money, not exceeding 25 per cent, for the purpose of 
conveying pupils to and from school. Every Massa¬ 
chusetts township must provide and maintain a suffi¬ 
cient number of school houses properly furnished and 
conveniently located for the accommodation of all 
children entitled to attend public schools. The school 
committee, unless the town otherwise directs, sb,^U 
have charge of the school houses and furnish all 
things necessary for the comfort of the pupils, at the 
expense of the town. This practically gives them the 
power to consolidate schools and provide transporta¬ 
tion. In all of the States mentioned above attendance 
is compulsory upon all children between certain age 
limits, unless receiving an equal amount of private 
instruction or excused by disability or some other 
good reason. In New York the age limits are 8 to 14; 
Pennsylvania, 8 to 13; Connecticut, 7 to 14; New 
Hampshire, 8 to 14; Massachusetts, 7 to 14. 
KILLING OUT MUSTARD. 
We gave a report of the famous seed case at Lockport, 
N. Y., on page 817, volume for 1901. A farmer bought seed 
oats which contained mustard seed, and thus covered the 
field with this pest. Readers have asked what cultiva¬ 
tion the farmer gave in order to kill out the mustard. 
Here is his report: 
In reference to working the field, we nrst plowed it 
just as shallow as we could, our theory being to keep 
the mustard seed as near the surface as possible. 
After from four to six weeks we thoroughly culti¬ 
vated, and then again in from four to six weeks’ time, 
after this letting the field lie flat with no furrows for 
drainage all Winter. In Spring we thoroughly work¬ 
ed the surface, not plowing it at all, and then planted 
to corn in hills, so as to admit of cultivating thor¬ 
oughly both ways. Of course there were quite a few 
plants of mustard that came up, and we were very 
careful when cultivating to pull all we saw. This 
year we will put the field to corn again (22 acres), 
and by thorough cultivation we are satisfied we can 
subdue it in a year or so more. Our theory is to keep 
the seed as near the surface as possible, to give it a 
chance to germinate, and then kill it by cultivation. 
As regards pulling it, it was simply an absurdity, and 
could not be done. w. H. bell. 
EXPERIENCE WITH A LARGE HENHOUSE. 
I have a henhouse 100 feet long by 16 wide, two 
stories high. The lower story opens to the south, and 
the upper to the north. I put in wire partitions as 
recommended by Mr. Mapes on page 302. I have al¬ 
ways had a good deal of trouble with roup. The hens 
would get cold, and at times it would look as though 
it was impossible to continue the use of the house. 
There must be openings and fresh air, but in such a 
house there will be so strong a circulation of air from 
one end to the other that the fowls are sure to get 
colds. I finally put in solid partitions in place of the 
wire, and everything is all right; no more colds or 
roup. With a building 15 feet wide, a wall at least 
one foot thick, and an alley of four feet you will 
only have about 9%xl0 feet left inside the pens, mak¬ 
ing only 95 square feet to a pen. I find that I can 
only put about 12 fowls in a pen of that size. They 
must have at least eight square feet to each fowl. 
Here is one of the great mistakes that is sure to be 
made by those who have not had lots of experience. 
Fowls closely confined must have at least from four 
to five times as much house room as those that have 
free range. Put a door with glass in at each end of 
alley, and a sash in each pen in the partition, dividing 
from hallway. Hang on hinges so as to swing around, 
and cover the opening with wire netting, and you will 
have light enough in the hallway. There should 
never be a wire partition in a henhouse in the North¬ 
ern States unless you want trouble. I take my fowls 
out of the large house and put in small houses in the 
Spring, scattering them around over the place like 
O. W. Mapes, and I find the hens do better. I get 
more fertile eggs, it is no more work, costs less to 
keep the hens, and they are a good deal healthier 
than when confined. After 10 years with a big house 
I never would build another. Small houses scattered 
around with free range is the best way,, costs much 
less, and you can get better results. a. a. 
Burdett, N. Y. _ 
English Tax on Grain and Flour. 
In my opinion the new English Import duty on grain 
and flour, being on all imported breadstuffs alike, from 
all countries, will not affect our exports to the United 
Kingdom. The duty being so small should not reduce the 
consumption, and they will need just as much now as 
before the duty was put on. This is certainly true as to 
wheat, for which no cheaper substitute exists. As to 
flour it is my opinion that the immediate effect will be 
that the demand will be somewhat less at the moment, 
until stocks now on hand can be worked off, as holders 
can undersell new arrivals and still have a handsome 
profit. As I understand, however, stocks of flour in the 
United Kingdom are small. It will to a certain extent 
work as a hardship to American millers and exporters of 
flour, and may result in still closer competition, especial¬ 
ly as the duty is slightly in favor of wheat as against 
flour, but I think that the whole matter will adjust it¬ 
self in a very short time. It seems an opportune time 
for the railroads in this country to equalize rates on flour 
and wheat for export, and give what assistance they 
can to one of our important Industries. 
Minneapolis, Minn. ricuard haertel. 
