1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
89 
AYRSHIRE BREEDERS’ ANNUAL MEETING. 
The Ayrshire Breeders’ Association met in New 
York, January 26, for its 23d annual meeting. The 
lovers of this stanch old Scotch breed are, like the 
animals they breed, quiet, deliberate, business-like ; 
they have an eye to the accomplishment of the best 
results for the advancement of the interests of the 
Ayrsliires, and for the stimulation of interest in the 
breed. Prof. Van Slyke, of the New York Experiment 
Station, delivered an address on Some of the Solved 
and Unsolved Problems of Dairying. Aside from this, 
the time of the meeting was taken up largely with 
matters of business and discussions thereon. The pro¬ 
ceedings were harmonious throughout. 
The matter of home dairy tests and fair tests ex¬ 
cited most discussion. Ayrshire breeders have been 
behind some of the other breeders’ associations in 
recognizing the value of making these tests and pub¬ 
lishing the results. They knew that their favorite 
breed is a good one, but they hadn’t taken the trouble 
to impress that fact upon others in a practical way. 
They set the ball rolling a couple of years ago, how¬ 
ever, and the results of a few home tests were reported 
last year. These were from herds of not less than 10 
cows. The conditions were so amended, however, that 
last year, herds of five or more cows could compete. 
Some of the results reported were exceedingly good, 
both in quantity of milk, and in the per cent of butter 
fat. One good feature of these reports was the giving 
of the manner of feeding, and amount of feed. The 
tests were made on two consecutive days at two differ¬ 
ent times of year, generally in June or July, and 
December or January, thus giving the results of four 
days’ milking. The coming year, the tests are to cover 
a period of seven days, and the association increased 
the amount of the appropriation for prizes for the 
best results. The home tests are conducted under the 
oversight of the experiment station in the State in 
which the herd is located. The fair tests didn’t seem 
to come up to expectations. Most fair managers didn't 
manifest a consuming desire to come up to the terms 
offered—that they should duplicate the prizes offered 
by the association. At the Vermont Fair, very satis¬ 
factory tests were made. 
The matter of exorbitant transportation charges 
on stock was brought up. These are a great drawback 
to sales of purebred stock. Many a prospective pur¬ 
chaser is discouraged when he figures the cost of get¬ 
ting the desired animal to his home. A more liberal 
policy would benefit, not only the breeders of pure¬ 
bred stock, but the live stock interests of the country 
at large. A committee was appointed to see what 
could be accomplished in securing a more liberal policy 
from the railroads. 
The injustice of having Ayrshires judged at fairs by 
the breeders of other breeds of cattle, was discussed. 
Instances were cited in which Ayrshire breeders had 
gone to fairs to judge cattle, and instead of being as¬ 
signed to the breed with which they were most 
familiar, were given other classes to judge, and other 
breeders were assigned to judge the Ayrshires, thus 
making a misfit all around. Fair managers are to be 
appealed to to remedy this mistake. 
The old officers were all reelected, L. S. Drew, Bur¬ 
lington, Vt., being president, and C. M. Winslow, 
Brandon, Vt., secretary. f. ii. v. 
TREE SHARKS IN NEW YORK STATE. 
At least two sets of fruit-tree sharks are workihg in 
the northern part of New York, and both of them are 
representing Ohio nurseries. They were, at last ac¬ 
counts, in the regions where peaches and apples are 
grown along the shores of Lake Ontario, but may have 
moved elsewhere, or there may be others in other 
sections. They have various schemes and baits by 
which to catch the unwary, and they are catching 
them, too. One is to make people believe that they 
have varieties of the peach that are free from borers 
and yellows. This is untrue and unreasonable; 
Dr. Erwin F. Smith, who is the best posted of any one 
now living, on the matter of Peach yellows, has con¬ 
clusively proved, by a long series of experiments, that 
no kind of peach stock or variety will prevent trees 
being affected with this disease. These agents 
are working the “Southern Natural Peach Seed” 
racket. This Dr. .Smith proved to be a fallacy. The 
southern peach trees, whether seedlings or budded 
varieties, in Tennessee or elsewhere, are not so much 
affected with borers there as are trees in the northern 
States ; but when they are brought to the northern 
regions where Peach borers are more plentiful, they 
are equally affected with any other peach trees or 
stocks. 
Another part of their game is to tell the people that 
they cannot and will not sell “ more than 1,000 trees” 
(in some cases, at least), to one person. This is one 
of the old tricks that such rascals have been playing 
for many years. I am astonished that any sensible 
man would listen to it for a minute. 
They have another plan of gaining confidence, by 
telling their intended victims that they have found 
that a certain variety of peach (or it may be 
an apple, near, etc.), that they formerly had to 
sell is of little value, and do not now offer it. 
You see, they have a new one that they wish to sell. 
The price is usually $25 per 100 for peach trees, and of 
varieties that are practically untested, which is five 
times more than a good old variety. One man told 
me that he was “ taken in to the tune of $50 ” on this 
dodge a few days ago. 
One of these scamps came to, at least one man in 
Wayne County, who told me, and begged him to give 
him “a small order at any rate;” he did not care 
whether he paid for them or not; he just wanted his 
name on his books, for some other men would buy if 
he would do so. lie refused, and why ? Because this 
scoundrel wanted him to lend his good name to a 
scheme to defraud his neighbors ; and it would have 
been no more than the thieving agent of his equally 
dishonest master deserved, to have had his hide filled 
full of shot. H. K. VAN HUMAN. 
AMONG THE MARKETMEN. 
WHAT I SEE AND HEAR. 
Print Butter. —I was told of one butter retailer 
who said to customers who inquired his prices: “ Here 
is some very fine tub creamery butter which I am sell¬ 
ing so-and-so; but here is some choice print butter 
which is delivered daily from a private dairy for which 
I get so-and-so.” The price asked for the latter was 
about 50 per cent more than for the former. Was it 
worth that much more ? The fact of the case was 
that, each morning, the dealer pressed a quantity of 
the tub butter into nice pound prints decorated with 
the name and design of the “ private dairy,” and 
these he sold to the particular customers who wanted 
something a little better than common tub butter, and 
who were willing to pay an extra price for their pref¬ 
erence. Many such frauds are practiced upon pur¬ 
chasers by dealers; a great deal of money is paid 
sometimes for articles with high-sounding, often for¬ 
eign, names, that are not one whit better than the 
common run of goods. 
X X X 
Commission Merchant’s Returns. —A commission 
merchant showed me a letter from an irate shipper, 
lie said that he had shipped a lot of choice turkeys 
weighing 330 pounds, that the commission merchant 
had returned for only 292 pounds, and he threatened, 
if proper returns for the other 38 pounds were not 
made within five days, to make trouble for the 
aforesaid commission merchant. The latter said that 
the turkeys were fine ones, and that he got a cent or 
two a pound above the ruling market price. The ex¬ 
press receipt was for 330 pounds gross, including two 
boxes in which the turkeys were packed. One of these 
boxes was weighed, and tipped the scales at just 15 
pounds. Allowing thajt the other weighed the same, 
it would leave a discrepancy of just eight pounds, that 
is if there were no packing material. It is generally 
expected that there will be a slight shrinkage in 
dressed poultry, especially if shipped soon after kill-. 
ing. Was this shrinkage of eight pounds too much ?' 
Of course, it couldn’t be reasonably expected that any- 
receiver could sell the boxes containing the turkeys; 
for the same price per pound as the turkeys. The 
buyer takes the packages usually. It would seem that 
this particular shipper was a little too hasty, f. ii. v. 
■■ niiiii iiiHiininiiiiiiiiiiiiiimniuiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiimii 
WITH TIIE = 
GARFIELD £ 
KNAPSACK 
or tine 
EMPIRE KING 
— Perfect agitators—no Hcorchiug of 
5 foliage—no leather or rubber valve*. 
5 Catalogue free. Agent* wanted. 
a field force pumpxompany, 
IS Market 8t., Loekport, N.Y. _ 
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitimiiiiiiiiiiuiimiuiiiniiiumiiiiiiiiA 
MACHINES of 
all kinds and sizes for 
drilling wells for house, 
farm, City and Village 
Water Works, Facto 
ries, Ice Plants, Brew¬ 
eries, Irrigation, Coal and 
Mineral Prospecting, Oil and 
Gas, etc. Latest and Best 3C 
years experience. WRITE US 
WHAT YOU WANT. 
LOOMIS & NYMAN, Tiffin, Ohio. 
HE ‘‘STRUCK OIL.” 
That’s what happened to the man who bought 
- STAR DRILLING MACHINE beeause 
k they drill faster and at less expense than 
' any machine made. Either steam or horse 
1 power. Operator can pull toola, sand 
■ pump, reverse and stop engine with 
out removing from his position at well. 
No springs, no cogs, longer stroke 
Lana more of them than any othei 
i machine, Oatalogne of machinet 
1 and full line of tools and supplier 
STAB nail I mn n aVLTmc y. Write for it 
STAR DRILLING MACHINE CO. AKION.O.orST, LOUIS, MO 
T— 
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s 
i 
£ 
t 
CABLED 
FIELD AND 
HOC FENCE 
With or without lower cable barbed. Cabled Poultry, 
Carden und RabbitFcrn-c. Steel Web Picket Fence 
for lawns and cemeteries, Steel Gates and Posts. 
DE KALB FENCE CO., 315 High St., DE KALB, ILL 
A Ten Acre Lot 
Is a beautiful plot after being worked with a “Planet Jr. 
1!£ tooth. Harrow. It will cultivate it better 
than any other implement under the sun 
and in half the time. It cultivates deep or shal- 
-V/ low, wide or nurrow; prepares theground forseed. 
drilling mid plant setting; has an attachment for — ^ — y/ _ 
tools belonging to the “ Planet Jr.” Family. It’s a veritable re vliation In later f 
pleasure < 0 Son? <v! Inf t 8houW be mul |>y every man who plants for profit or for 
pleasure. Sent free to anyone anywhere. Will you have it? 
_ s » L. ALLUN&CO,, 1107 Market St., Philadelphia. 
The Middle Man's Money 
la yours when you buy from us. 
We sell only direct to the 
farmer and paythe Freight. 
That saves you all the middle man's 
_.tens’ Advance Fence 
M fflMSMSIL'Vffi, 'U’ffisa, 
times a better fence. Prices way down. Any heltrht you 
want up to 67 Inches. Nothin# skimped—every thin# the 
bejJ- and extra special discount. 
ADVANCE *Ki\CE CO.. 9 Old St., Peoria, Ill. 
for 
OO 
MACHINE 
to weaveyourownfenceof 
Coiled Hard .Steel 
Spring Wire, 
M inches high, at 
25 Cts. per Rod. 
*20 buys wire for lOO 
rod fenee. Agents 
Wail ted. Catalogue Fr.a. 
CAKTF.K 
Wire FenreNaeli.Co. 
Uox23 Mt.Sterling.O. 
• true FENCE economy. 
• consists in building a fence that will last; one 
0 that cannot be blown down; one that cannot 
0 born up, and which will turn all kinds of 
0 stock, from the smallest pig to the largest bull 
• < ’! j lorse * Such a fence is the KEYSTONE 
0 FENCE. More about It in our vkee book on 
0 fence building 
« KEYSTONE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., 
• N o. 19 Rush St., Peoria, III. 
UWBTiS) 
KITSKLBAH BROTHERS, 
^he tw bt la whal makes the KiUoimaa Fcnoo ffc* 
moua. With our Duplex Automatic Machine you 
caa make 100 styles and 60 rods per day of the 
Beat Woven Wire Fonoeon Earth, 
Horse-high, Bull-strong, Pig-tight 
FOR 182 PER ROD 
Chicken fence 19o. Rabbit-proof 
fenee lflc. and a good Hog fenoe 
fer 12e. per rod. Plain, Coiled 
Spring and Barbed Wire to farm¬ 
ers at wholesale prices. Catalogue 
_jFRKI for the asking. Address. 
Box 104, Rldgevllle, Indiana. 
BOWEN 
.CABLE STAY FENCE CO, 
<T I n For a machine to build 
4 > | U the cheapest strongest 
and best fence made of wire. 
No royalties, no farm rights, 
machine easily and quickly 
operated by any farmer, r 
' large circulars'" 
Bend for' 
NORWALK.O. 
It 
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— 
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FARMERS’ FENCE. 
The best and cheapest 
fence on earth. Weaver 
and outfit, ifli; stretchers, 
8 nor lot). Wire at whole¬ 
sale. Testi’ls &cir.free. 
T. J. Andre, Wauseon.O 
A Spring at Each End 
nf fl Wira Tnnttn/w.A ....._lx I. 
of a wire mattress won’t do. It must ‘give” 
wherever one chances to touch it. So in wire fence 
nee<letl Wherever the shock may come’ 
i <■«" principal is theoniy solu- 
lssue^ d iC beloair " to u “ ou *y. 8ee ”aa" in next 
PAGE WOVEN WISE FENCE CO., Adrian, Mich. 
* 
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ifEYSTONE... 
■* Corn Planter 
Drops a wliolo hill at once. A positive movement Ac¬ 
curate dropping plauter. AIL Steel except tongue. 
1 horoughly braced 
throughout. 
Best Steel 
Shoes, 
Strong, —— 
Durable, Accurate. 
Extra plates for planting in drills. 
KEYSTONE... 
Potato Planter 
Made to mecL the demands 
for a Low Priced 
Reliable 
Machine 
For 
Planting 
Potatoes 
It iitsthe case exactly 
H«w n capacity of 4 to 
6 acres a day. Will 
p»v for It¬ 
self In One 
season. Ask 
for testi- 
in o ii i a 1 H 
of this. 
Keystone Tongue loss 
Cultivators with either wam>4 
or Steel beams, steel wheels, high arch and our famous 
soft center shovels are the best for all kinds of cultiva¬ 
tion. Best in material, construction nud finish. No 
tongue-—easy on neck; easy draft. Write for circulars 
and prices of these and our entire <4 Koy stone Lino.” 
KEYSTONE MFG. CO., 
24 River St. (STERLING, ILL. 
f 
$ 
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* 
* 
Jiffi&GRAIN 
SUNS. 
to get our la¬ 
test C a i a - 
logue of ni<j 
? greatest line 
of 
HAY TOOLS °" Eart , h - A postal Will bring It. 
iih i I wu La Also valuable information about 
Haying and Hay Barns. Our slings handle 
straw, fodder and ail kinds of forage, and work with 
any elevator. Now is the time to prepare for 
harvest.'Write at once. Address 
LOUDEN MACHINERY CO., Fairfield, Iowa. 
