56 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 22 
The Rural New=Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850 . 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-in-Chief. 
Herbert W. Colling wood, Managing Editor. 
Frank H. Valentine, I A„ SO( . iate Fditor „ 
Mrs. E. T. Royle, f Associate Editors. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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We must have copy one week before the date of issue. 
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safest means of transmitting money. 
Address all business communications and make all orders pay¬ 
able to THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY , JANUARY 22, 1898. 
“ It is as impossible to change a Short-horn into a 
typical dairy animal as it is to change a dairy cow into 
a good beef animal.” So says Mr. Ward, in the report 
of the New York State Breeders’ Association. Yet 
Prof. Wing states in the interview on page 50, that the 
Short-horn is the favorite dairy cow in England. 
Which is off type—the Short-horn or the English¬ 
man ! Probably the American Short-horn cow ! 
O 
The new pure-food laws which went into effect in 
Wisconsin January 1, bar out all imitation jellies col¬ 
ored to imitate fruit products, but adulterations of 
many foods may be sold as “ compounds.” The State 
Dairy and Food Commissioner holds that where sev¬ 
eral articles thus mixed are natural food products, 
bearing a natural relation to one another, they may 
be thus sold. For example, coffee mixed with chicory 
could be sold as a compound, but not as coffee. 
O 
Tiie past week has given a perfect specimen of a 
“January thaw ” in northern New Jersey. The frost 
has come out of the ground except in grass land and 
where mulch has been used. The Crimson clover and 
rye have started growing once more, and the hens 
evidently think that Spring has come. It is most un¬ 
seasonable weather. Mud, doubt and depression are 
the crops in evidence upon many farms. It’s a good 
time to store up sunshine in the shape of a good pile 
of stove wood. 
O 
A trolley freight service has proved a great con¬ 
venience in the vicinity of Detroit, Mich., the Detroit 
& Pontiac Railway picking up farm products—milk, 
butter, eggs, etc., early in the morning, for city de¬ 
livery, and bringing out city parcels in the evening. 
According to a Michigan law, electric lines cannot 
carry freight within the city limits between 8 A. m. 
and 8 p. m., hence these deliveries must be made with¬ 
in certain hours. Special freight cars are used, and 
the service is a paying investment. 
Q 
The Oregon Board of Horticulture wishes to import 
a German bird, known as the Kohlmeise (Parus major), 
for the purpose of fighting the Codling moth. In Ger¬ 
many, this bird is said to be a great insect destroyer, 
and some enthusiasts on the western slope seem to 
think that it will entirely take the place of sprays 
and bands. The truth seems to be that this German 
bird is not a bit better at catching insects than the 
American Chickadee. It appears to love seeds and 
fruit as well as it does insects, and will attack and 
kill smaller and weaker birds in a savage manner. 
The results following the introduction of the English 
sparrow ought to make people thoughtful about bring¬ 
ing in this new candidate for disfavor. 
O 
The State of Connecticut has a law which calls for 
analyses of food products which are suspected of 
being adulterated. Dr. S. W. Johnson of the experi¬ 
ment station has just issued a report of his second 
year’s work under this law. Out of 1,063 samples of 
food examined, 209 were adulterated, and 93 contained 
borax or salicylic acid. The worst adulterations are 
found in coffee, spices, olive oil and molasses. The 
worst cases of borax and salicylic acid poisoning are 
in catsup, sausage, canned oysters and cream. Out of 
42 samples of sausage tested, 27 contained borax, in 
some cases as high as 50 grains to the pound ! Borax 
was also found in all the samples of shredded codfish 
that were examined. Dr. Johnson says that, in spite 
of the evidence his chemists have secured, no 
prosecutions have yet been made for violation 
of the law. He has evidently more faith in the 
free publication of the facts about adulterated food 
and drink than in any legal process. The brands of 
goods found to be adulterated and the names of the 
manufacturers, are to be printed in the station’s re¬ 
ports. That is what drove fraudulent fertilizers out 
of the State. Fertilizer laws were passed, but the 
fertilizer frauds were not prosecuted. Year after year 
the station sannpled every brand made or sold, and 
fearlessly printed the analyses. As a result the frauds 
have nearly disappeared, and the best farmers are not 
deceived. That seems to be the chief hope for State 
pure food laws. Buyers will force the frauds out of 
the market when they know the real facts about food. 
O 
On page 57, Prof. Taft gives us a clear statement of 
the new law for nursery and orchard inspection which 
Michigan has adopted. Fruit growers and nursery¬ 
men generally seem to believe that this law will have a 
tendency to check the spread of plant diseases. It is 
not expected that the law as it stands at present is 
perfect. Its purpose is right, but experience with it 
will determine what changes or slight amendments 
will make it stronger and fairer. One possible effect 
will be to drive small dealers and “ tree agents” out 
of the business, leaving only those who are able to 
supply certificates and bonds. We hope fruit growers 
will not place too much dependence upon the certifi¬ 
cates issued by the entomologists or inspectors. They 
must understand that these certificates alone are not 
a positive guarantee of freedom from disease or insects. 
O 
The wonderful power of a healthy tree root to hold 
its own in the soil is well illustrated by the picture on 
page 50. The roots of these maple trees force their 
way even between blocks of stone. Many people have 
seen trees growing in cracks of rocks so that the 
roots have fairly split the rocks apart. Certainly, if 
roots can make their way through brick and stone, 
we need not spend much time in pulverizing the soil 
for them. When J. H. Hale first planted his great 
peach orchard in Georgia, he did not even plow the 
ground. The roots were cut back to small stubs, and 
the trees were set in the firm ground in holes made by 
driving in a spade. Less than half of one per cent 
failed to grow. Considering the ability of the average 
tree root to get into the ground, do we not often waste 
labor in trying to do its digging for it ? 
O 
Gov. Griggs, of New Jersey, in his message to the 
legislature, calls attention to tax exemptions. Prop¬ 
erty to the value of $10,131,892 is exempted because it 
is owned by veterans or their widows, firemen or mem¬ 
bers of the State militia. Such persons receive a tax- 
rebate on $500 worth of property. The Governor 
doubts whether such exemptions are constitutional : 
The courts have decided that property can he constitutionally 
classified for taxation by the uses to which it is put, whether it 
be railroad and canal purposes, charitable or public purposes. 
The courts have not held, however, that property used for ordi¬ 
nary business purposes can be classified as taxable or exempt 
according to whether or not the owner is a person of a particular 
kind or has rendered particular public service. 
These exemptions should be removed as soon as possi¬ 
ble. They work, for the most part, against the inter¬ 
ests of farmers, since town and city people derive 
most benefit from them. Let this property stand its 
fair share of taxation. This is not the way to reward 
firemen and soldiers! 
O 
A Texas man wrote to Harper’s Weekly and out¬ 
lined a plan for rich men to open large tracts of land 
to be sold in small farms to poor people. This man 
misspelled several words in his letter and got his 
grammar a little twisted. Harper’s Weekly sees fit to 
print these errors in full, and in the course of its com¬ 
ments says : 
His plau would be more attractive if he could guarantee that 
his assisted farmers would not unanimously repudiate the obli¬ 
gation to pay rent after the first year, and that they would not all 
vote for free silver at every election. Capitalists sometimes give 
money for educational uses because they hope thereby to raise 
the average of intelligence, and promote wise government and the 
security of property. It would probably be difficult to persuade 
them that the same ends can be attained by promoting the in¬ 
crease of Texas farmers. The time-honored impression that agri¬ 
culture and a superior virtue are linked together has of late years 
grown somewhat faint. 
Several years ago, former Secretary of Agriculture 
Morton received a protest from a Grange, which was 
evidently written by some one ignorant of the rules 
of grammar. The secretary thought he did a very 
bright thing when he had this letter printed just as it 
was written. It is unfortunate that so many people 
should consider this public parade of the misfortunes 
of others a sound argument against the convictions 
they attempt to express. So far as citizenship is con¬ 
cerned the average farmer stands a head above the 
average man who has lived in town or city all his life. 
The latter is about the narrowest man that walks the 
earth. There is nothing but brick and stone in his 
make-up, and all his surroundings are such as will 
make him selfish and bigoted in acts and opinions. 
Not only that, but he is a mere handler—creating 
nothing, and demanding as much for his handling as 
the producer receives for his producing. 
O 
On page 23 one of our correspondents wanted to 
know where he could get graduates of agricultural 
colleges who could take charge of a practical green¬ 
house. “ Have you any men willing to dig with an 
educated muscle ? ” That was his question, and it is 
a fair one. Here are two answers to it—both coming 
from headquarters: 
Your correspondent, page 23, wants some agricultural college 
graduates who will not shirk manual labor. lean send him as 
many as he wants, first-class men, reliable in every particular, if 
he is willing to pay the market price for that class of goods. 
Almost any agricultural college in the country could fill an order 
for a dozen without delay. f. a. waugh. 
University of Vermont and State Agricultural College. 
In view of the remarks by E. C. B. in The R. N.-Y., January 8 
I wish to report my observations during 15 years of employment 
in State (agricultural) colleges—eight years in the Agricultural 
College of Kansas and seven years in the Ohio State University. 
During this time I have taught one or more branches of science 
to the students of agriculture and horticulture, and have seen 
many take up work on their fathers' or their own farms or for 
other parties, after their four years’ college course was ended. 
In all cases they have profited by and are enjoying the advant¬ 
ages that their education gave them, and in most cases their 
lives and work show this plainly to the community in which they 
live. But by no means all who have completed their collegiate 
course go back to the farm. Something more alluring in the way 
of opportunity for better wages and wider influence, very often is 
then at hand. Many engage in teaching, some become managers 
of industrial enterprises of various kinds. “ Education pays in 
dollars and cents ” in such cases, and the many benefits besides 
are also reaped. But all of the graduates are. not so engaged, 
and if E. C. B. or any one else calls on us, we can recommend to 
him—provided he will pay wages that the person is worth—“ men 
willing to dig with an educated muscle”. w. a. kellerman. 
Ohio State University. 
We have no doubt whatever that these claims can 
be made g-ood. We know personally of many agricult¬ 
ural college graduates who are perfectly ready to get 
down and work in the soil. Many of our practical 
men would like the “educated muscle” but do not 
want to pay extra for the education. The college 
graduate has had to pay for it. It is fair enough that 
lie should charge for pieces of it that are hired out to 
others. 
O 
BREVITIES. 
Now, boys, here comes your mother—see old Grav 
A-joggin’ through the mud ? Start up that fire; 
She’ll want to git that supper under way, 
An’ that jest tallies with my own desire. 
“ Well, ma, I didn’t think you’d come so soon; 
Stand still, old Gray! Well, how’d the meetin’ go ? 
I thought about ye all the afternoon 
At this here missionary meetin’—Sho! 
They ’lected you fer president ? My stars! 
Unanimous ? Well, now, don’t that beat all ? 
It looks as though they jest let down the bars 
An’ run good fortune right into our stall. 
You run right in—we gut the fire all made.” 
“ Why, John, you done first-rate—I guess I’ll make 
Some pancakes for your supper—I'm afraid 
This oven ain’t quite hot enough to bake 
A batch of biscuit.—you go right down stair 
An’ take your pick of fruit—no, don’t ask me; 
Take jes’ the kind you like an’ I won’t care 
An’ won’t make no complaint! ” 
“ Well, here they be 
Quince, rosberry an’ grape, strawberry, say ! 
Rosberry's jest about her favorite. 
She’s jest been ’lected president to-day, 
An’ so I guess we’ll try her sauce to-night! ’’ 
It takes an old hen to win her spurs. 
Hole feed—doughnuts. Ground feed—peanuts. 
“ Ginger ” bred—the nervous, high-strung horse. 
How many scrubs drawing pensions in your barn ? 
Certainly! The homekiller is guilty of homeycide! 
“ A wool exchange ’’—sending her a lock of your hair! 
Some people always did think more of rites than of rights. 
The debtor well knows how much interest is taken in “ Lent ”. 
It might pay you to spend part of your time in a prayer y state. 
Too much ginger in the hen’s mash means a case of ginger ail. 
What business has a specialist ever to join a cooperative con¬ 
cern ? 
Why is the bearded man like a destructive insect ? He’s woolly 
a-phiz! 
It requires all the starch in a man’s nature to resist the brine 
test of his wife’s tears. 
Give the live stock a yard of “ dry goods”. Don’t dry the yard 
by drainage, but by absorbents. 
Which are you most likely to do—set a good example or sit 
down upon some other person’s efforts to do so ? 
Don’t expect strong broilers from the 200-egg hen. When the 
lazy hen does lay, the egg is likely to contain a strong germ. 
Molasses is said to be greatly adulterated. Strange how the 
test of time does show the bogus character of most of life’s 
sweets! 
The jury in a New York murder trial consumed $350.15 worth of 
liquor and $238.40 worth of cigars while trying the case. No 
wonder the lawyers demand a new trial! 
“Banish English dudes! ” is the surprising report printed in 
Bulletin 44 of the Ontario Department of Agriculture. This re¬ 
port is made from Grey County in reply to questions about im¬ 
ported farm labor. There are various kinds of foreign meat that 
may well be inspected before lauding. 
