THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
February 4 
86 
The Rural New-Yorker 
TEE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Home*. 
Established 1850. 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-In-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
Frank H. Valentine, { * _, 
Mrs. E. T. Rotle, {-Associate Editors. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1899. 
Send us a club of four subscriptions with $4, 
and we will advance your own subscription 
one year free, or send one new subscription for 
a neighbor with 81, and ask for your choice of 
these books : 
New Potato Culture.10.40 
Business Hen.40 
The Nursery Book. 50 
American Grape Training.75 
Horticulturist’s Rule Book.50 
We send any one of them, post paid, as a reward for 
sending us one new subscription. 
5 
for 
$4 
Is there anything the matter with H. G. Manches¬ 
ter’s methods of figuring the values of cattle feeds, on 
page 85 ? If so, what ? Have you a better way ? If 
so, will you tell us what it is, and why it is better ? 
Many a farmer’s worst enemies are his own lack of 
respect for his business, and his failure to realize the 
need of preparation and constant study. The law 
business is thought of as one requiring a great deal 
of knowledge and study ; but a farm requires as 
much knowledge and study for best results as any law¬ 
yer’s case. “You cannot take out of a measure more 
than is first put into it,” and the amount in the farm¬ 
er’s measure will increase as fast as knowledge takes 
the place of guesswork. May nature study soon be 
in all the common schools. 
In 1892, America exported $671,563,574 worth of farm 
products, which represented high tide at that time. 
In 1894, this fell to $537,279,181, but in 1898, it went 
up to the wonderful total of $789,667,394 ! That is 
what the farmers of the United States sent abroad 
after feeding 70,000,000 people at home. Secretary of 
Agriculture Wilson deserves credit fora good share of 
this increase. He has been hunting new markets, and 
advertising in old ones. It has been a quiet but ef¬ 
fective business campaign, and it shows results. 
Keep it before the Old World that the farmers of 
America have food to sell—pure food, too. 
There are, probably, more hogs killed at Chicago 
and Kansas City than at any other two places in the 
world, yet we send to Europe every year over $1,000,900 
for hog bristles. The reason for this is that the 
American hogs are fattened by a rush process, and 
cut off in the flower of youth; consequently their 
bristles are too soft to be used in making hard grades 
of brushes. Russia produces the longest, stiffest 
bristles, which are supplied by old hogs and wild 
boars. The American bristles are largely used for 
tooth brushes. We don't suppose it would pay to 
change our hog feeding in order to make better bristles! 
The work Canada is doing for her fruit growers is 
briefly outlined by Mr. Orr on page 76. One man 
writing about this, says that he was completely dis¬ 
couraged in the Fall of 1897, and decided to cut down 
all of his 300 apple trees. He was advised to try 
spraying. The next Spring, he received a note from 
Mr. Orr calling a meeting of those interested in fruit 
raising in that region, and stating the government’s 
intention to conduct spraying experiments. He at¬ 
tended the meeting, and offered his orchard for the 
experiment. Part were sprayed, and part were left 
unsprayed. On the sprayed trees, the apples were 
sound and large, the foliage a good color, and the 
trees made more growth than ever before in one sea¬ 
son. Although it was the off year for fruit, some of 
his trees were propped, they were so loaded. On the 
unsprayed trees, the fruit was practically worthless. 
He was so well satisfied that he will continue the 
work, and expects even-better results. It seems almost 
incredible to one not familiar with the subject, that 
such results could be accomplished simply by thorough 
spraying ; but there are many witnesses to the facts 
in different localities. They bear testimony to the 
great value of these experiments by the government. 
Furthermore, it is said that the work is appreciated 
by the people, probably because they know a good 
thing when they see it. No theories are presented 
to them, but practical examples. 
• 
• • 
The N. Y. State fertilizer law should be changed 
so as to stop the useless and confusing practice of 
issuing so many different brands of fertilizer. Over 
1900 different brands must be sampled and analyzed. 
Often the same mixture is bagged and sold under half 
a dozen different names. This is usually done to 
satisfy some local agents who want some special name 
to enable them to compete with a rival. The result 
is great confusion to farmers, and extra work and ex¬ 
pense to the experiment station. One way to stop it 
is for the State to compel manufacturers to pay a tax 
or license on each brand of fertilizer they issue or 
sell. That would, probably, cut down the list severely, 
and this would work no injury to farmers. 
The unsatisfactory results of the first attempts of 
a novice to cook cranberries, are given on the Woman’s 
page. This would suggest the wisdom of inclosing 
with packages of products going to a new market, 
printed directions for cooking and preparation. Many 
of the Pacific coast packers of evaporated fruits in¬ 
clude these in every package The makers of cereal 
foods, and all kinds of flavorings, condiments, etc., 
give full directions for use. These are important, be¬ 
cause upon proper use often depends the success of 
the cooking. In seeking new markets, it is equally 
important that buyers know just how to prepare the 
strange fruits and vegetables. One who had for the 
first time eaten fresh cherries out of hand and found 
them very good, might conclude that cranberries were 
worthless if, in his ignorance, he tried them in the 
same way. 
Dr. Jordan’s remarks before the Western New 
York Horticultural Society were well received. It 
was not a new thought to many of the farmers pres¬ 
ent, but Dr. Jordan put it before them forcibly, and 
it is safe to say that they went home convinced that 
he is right: 
1. In saying that the production of a barrel of apples 
or a quart of milk is but one part of a farmer’s duty and 
business. He cannot perform the duties or the busi¬ 
ness of society until that product is turned into money 
—sold. We must take hold of the selling problem, 
and take hold of it together. 
2. The experiment stations must not waste time on 
small things, while larger and truer problems con¬ 
front us. There are problems connected with the 
feeding and care of the plant that have hardly been 
touched, but which are of great importance. 
It is a grand thing for New York State that Dr. 
Jordan is working on such broad and progressive 
lines to build up and develop a great experiment sta¬ 
tion at Geneva. 
Forty years ago, thousands of farmers left the 
eastern States, for the cheap and fertile lands of the 
West. Just after the Civil War, this immigration was 
greatly increased, for many soldiers after their excit¬ 
ing service, were not satisfied to go back to the small 
operations of the old farm. Out of many reasons for 
this change from East to West, the chief one was the 
idea that eastern soil, after 150 years of cropping, 
was so badly worn out that tne process of restoring it 
was too expensive. These men went West after cheaper 
plant food. They knew that they were going away 
from good markets, and the wisest of them should 
have known that they placed themselves at the mercy 
of railroads as well as in competition with farmers 
from the old country, and great corporations with 
large capital. They went, and some have prospered, 
while others would much better have remained where 
they were. To-day there is but little movement of 
immigrants from the East to the West. Why ? Farms 
are about as cheap in New York State and New Eng¬ 
land as in Kansas or Nebraska, with the advantages 
of nearer markets and better farm buildings. There 
are thousands of farms in New York State from which 
the younger people have gone that contain naturally 
strong and fertile land. These lands are not at present 
productive, hence they are offered at low values. They 
are not unlike men who have lost character and am¬ 
bition through ill nourishment or unjust usage, and 
must thus work for less than they are really capable 
of earning. The value of man or farm is determined 
by the ability to produce under fair management. We 
know now that the soil contains vast stores of poten¬ 
tial fertility. It cannot be worn out or exhausted in 
500 years of good culture. These cheap eastern farms 
need medicine rather than plant food. On many of 
them, clover will not thrive—often because the land 
is sour. The southern cow pea and a fair dressing of 
lime will give character and strength to these cheap 
farms, and fit them to make the best use of manures 
or fertilizers, or to grow good clover. Why should an 
eastern farmer go West to grow clover, when cow 
peas and lime will give the old farm new courage ? 
The proposition that we establish a bird day, as 
well as Arbor Day, has aroused some dissenting opin¬ 
ions. It is asserted that birds are greedy and bel¬ 
ligerent, and that, if we really wish to commemorate 
a worthy and retiring citizen, who is of immense ben¬ 
efit to agriculture, we should overlook the early bird, 
and distinguish the humble worm. Why not a worm 
day ? According to Mr. Darwin, it is the worms who 
fit the soil for vegetation. Not only is it due to worms 
that fresh surfaces are continually exposed to the car¬ 
bonic acid in the soil, and to the humus acids, but 
these lowly creatures also level inequalities in the 
land by their tireless work. We might even assert 
that, to the tireless work of the earth worms, century 
after century, we owe the final development of the 
famous breeds of sheep, since they were a product of 
rich pasture, only possible where there is an oppor¬ 
tunity for continued evolution to a higher type. 
Then again the worm “ turns ” once in a while. Farm¬ 
ers might learn from him how to hit back now and 
then. 
BREVITIES. 
[On June 5, 1897, The R. N.-Y. printed some verses by M. G. K. 
An Australian paper shook the lines up together, and produced 
the following. The advice is sound, though the “ poem ” has been 
pruned and root-grafted.] 
If we have the scale from San Jos6, 
Or other pest, be what it may, 
Let us spray. 
While we laze around they’re feedin’, 
While we’re swearin’ they’re a-breedin’, 
O. P. poison’s what we’re needin’, 
Let us spray. 
Lay a stock of Paris-green in, 
Don’t forget the kerosenin’, 
Let us spray. 
Into crevices go huntin’, 
Stop the hoppers’ cheerful jumpin’, 
What we’ve got to do is pumpin’, 
Let us spray. 
Pupa, chrysalis and millers, 
Fungi mixed with caterpillars, 
• Let us spray. 
Be they plump, or thin, or flaccid, 
Bring to bear on them the acid, 
That’s the way to make ’em placid, 
Let us spray. 
The hungry cow gives a high low. 
Better be unbought than uncaught. 
Spraying is fruit insurance—keep it up! 
A dose of humble heart for the big head. 
How often do you spell your oughts with O ? 
The hard-headed man wants to be a lord unto himself. 
Five minutes of sunlight kill the germs of tuberculosis. 
One of the most uncommon things is just ordinary common 
sense. 
We believe that consumption may be and is carried from hu¬ 
mans to cattle. 
As a watch is a timepiece, a human body is a lifepiece. What 
is the key to your lifepiece ? 
“ Troubles are blessings in disguise.” Well, now, some of 
them are mightily disguised! 
Those who brag most about their straightness, probably never 
were really tempted to be crooked. 
A fraud in sheep’s clothing—the man who buys an “ all-wool ” 
suit, and fails to pay for it. 
Oh, yes! Smite the creamery shark on the right cheek, and 
he’ll turn all the “ cheek ” he has left at you! 
The farmer must work, eat and sleep with Nature. Of course 
his children should study it in the district school. 
An Italian in this city, with poor specimens of Ben Davis to 
sell, put up the appropriate sign of “ Kieffer apples.” 
Some fruits that you can’t afford to grow for market are so 
good that you can’t afford to be without them for home use. 
Michigan seems to be full of “ adulterated ” oleomargarine. 
The adulteration seems to take the form of coloring matter to 
imitate butter. 
A Jersey City man has a game cock which has developed a 
taste for killing rats. He has almost entirely cleared the barn 
of the rodents. 
Mr. Paddock, of Geneva, exhibited at Rochester a piece of a 
tree afflicted with the Apple canker. It was certainly a cantan¬ 
kerous-looking specimen. 
The hardest hit yet at the Ben Davis apple comes from the 
man who says that he likes to eat apples before going to bed, for 
their laxative effect. He says that Ben Davis gives the opposite 
effect. 
There was a time when the western New York horticulturists 
spent half their time talking grapes. Now the grape is hardly 
ever mentioned. It is nearly all apple and plum—largely a dis¬ 
cussion of varieties. 
About the middle of January is the time when many Delaware 
growers put the fertilizer on asparagus. They also take this 
time for applying the potash and phosphoric acid to ground 
designed for potatoes. The fertilizer won’t run away. 
