286 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
April 16 
The Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
Elbf.rt S. Carman, Editor-In-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
Frank H. Valentine, I Associate Editors 
Mrs. E. T. Uotle, j-Associate Honors. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
PRICE, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 0d., or 8V4 marks, or 1014 francs. 
ADVERTISING RATES. 
Thirty cents per agate line (14 lines to the inch). Yearly orders 
of 10 or more lines, and 1,000-line orders, 25 cents per line. 
Reading Notices, ending with “ Adv.P 75 cents per 
count line. Absolutely One Price Only. 
Advertisements inserted only for responsible and honorable houses 
We must have copy one week before the date of issue. 
A few days since, a car-load of California Navel 
oranges was sold at auction in this market at prices 
that beat the record for some time past, if not for all 
the time that California oranges have been coming to 
this market. The oranges were donated to the Red¬ 
lands Y. M. C. A. by the people of Redlands and River¬ 
side. They were packed free of charge by several 
fruit companies doing business at those places, and 
were handled and sold without charge here. The pur¬ 
pose of the sale w r as announced, and the buyers seemed 
to be in full sympathy, for bidding was extremely 
liberal. Two different lots of one box each sold for 
$12 per box, one for $11.25, one for $10.50, one for $9, 
and so on down, none going for less than the full 
market price. The consignors ought to have very 
satisfactory returns for their venture. Another car¬ 
load has just been sold for the benefit of the Cuban 
relief fund, and brought double the ordinary price. 
Be sure that the name and address of sender, with name of 
Post-office and State, and what the remittance is for, appear in 
every letter. Money orders and bank drafts on New York are the 
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, ARPIL 16, 1898. 
Mr. Ballou’s article on training the grape vine 
strikes us as about the clearest and most practical 
description of this matter that we have ever seen. 
Here is a good example of the value of clear pictures. 
One might take an entire page of words, yet fail to 
make a reader understand just where and bow the 
vine is to be cut. The picture tells the story at a 
glance, especially if it is taken directly from a photo¬ 
graph. As reiders know, Tiik R. N -Y. has practically 
a monopoly among farm papers in the production of 
such pictures. 
0 
During the past two months, according to state¬ 
ments made by large distillers, there has been an un¬ 
precedented demand for all liquors, and this is attri¬ 
buted to the continued excitement and uncertainty 
over the situation in Cuba, which induces many peo¬ 
ple to drink more freely than usual. There has, also, 
been an increased demand for alcohol, which enters 
into the manufacture of smokeless powder, gun cot¬ 
ton, and other explosives. During the Civil War, 
large fortunes were acquired in distillery interests. 
Another war would, doubtless, repeat this experience ; 
would it be equally propitious to profits in legitimate 
trade ? 
© 
It is said that millers at Louisville and Nashville 
are doing a great business in grinding corn flour. 
They buy northern wheat, and mix with it from 10 to 
25 per cent of the white southern corn, so that the 
white color of ordinary flour is well imitated. This 
white-corn meal is also sold to millers in the Central 
West, to be used for adulterating wheat flour. This 
fraud promises to be as dangerous to the wheat 
grower as oleomargarine was to the dairyman. We 
all know how the “ oleo ” men told the beef-cattle 
growers that the extended use of their grease would 
raise the price of cattle. They told a similar story 
about cotton-seed oil to the southern cotton growers. 
In the face of their promises, cattle and cotton seed 
fell in price. The truth is that a fraud of this sort 
benefits only those who perpetrate it—the manu¬ 
facturers. Producers and consumers both lose 
through it. The “oleo” men cast suspicion upon 
American butter that nearly lost us our European 
markets. This corn flour fraud may cost us our great 
English flour trade if it be not stamped out at once. 
© 
A bill before the Massachusetts Legislature pro¬ 
poses a new use for convict labor. The plan is for 
the State to buy or secure tracts of wild or unim¬ 
proved land, and utilize convicts in improving it, or 
giving it an earning or selling value. When made 
salable at a fair price, the lands are to be sold for the 
benefit of the State. There is no question about the 
possibilities of such a scheme. With cheap labor and 
a fair cash capital, thousands of acres of “ abandoned 
farms ” could be so improved as to double their pro¬ 
ductive capacity. The same is true of marsh lands 
along the coast, and wide, sandy tracts near them. 
The State of Mississippi works its convicts on large 
State farms where cotton and other staple crops are 
produced in direct competition with farmers. The 
Massachusetts plan contemplates even more danger¬ 
ous competition, since it would, if successful, greatly 
increase the output of farm products which compete 
with the sales from the average farm. The great 
future of New England agriculture consists in restor¬ 
ing neglected or abused farming land to fertility by 
the use of scientific methods. This chance should be 
left to small freeholders rather than to convicts or 
corporations. Far better locate the convicts at stone 
ledges, and use them to break up “ road metal,” to 
be furnished at cost by the State. 
© 
We have had dozens of letters this year from men 
who have bought run-down or neglected farms, at low 
figures, and who hope to improve the land at a reason¬ 
able cost, and thus secure 'a good home. Here is a 
sample note from a reader in Pennsylvania : 
I bought 143 acres for $1,500, and have a barn 40 x 60 feet, a house 
24x34 feet, and an orchard of 100 trees, 10 years old. 1 have to 
pay $150 a year, and interest at six per cent. Can 1 pay for the 
place? The man starved out that was on the place. I am in a 
good market, a mining district. 
We are sure that there are possibilities on many of 
these neglected eastern farms, that have been almost 
thrown out of cultivation by wrong farming. With 
cow peas, clover and chemical fertilizers, they can, in 
a few years, be made quite productive. A fair amount 
of cash or good credit will be needed to make any 
speed in improving such farms. For the man who 
knows how to do it, there is profit in buying a poor 
farm, well located, and doubling its producing capac¬ 
ity. The man who does not know how, must pay for 
his education on the farm as well as elsewhere. 
- ° 
Since printing the article describing the Ruskin 
Cooperative Association, we have been surprised at 
the number of people who are interested in such enter¬ 
prises. The community idea of working all together, 
with profits and property shared in common, appeals 
to many who have been forced out of the race by 
modern competition. A number of communities have 
been organized in America during the past 75 years, 
but only two or three of them have met with real suc¬ 
cess. The Zoar community, in Ohio, could not satisfj'- 
the younger members with the old-fashioned habits of 
life. The community in Iowa has prospered financially, 
but it is said that some of its members, born and raised 
in Iowa, can hardly read and speak English. The 
Shakers have acquired extensive properties, but they 
are declining in numbers. We are promised more in¬ 
formation about Ruskin and its methods of business 
and government. Apparently, most people are too 
selfish and opinionated to succeed in such communi¬ 
ties. Success is impossible unless the individual gives 
up much of himself to the common cause. 
Q 
That is an interesting discussion of the effects of 
too much nitrogen which is printed on page 279. We 
understand from this how peach trees and some other 
fruits may be actually injured by too much Crimson 
clover or other-fertilizing - substance in which nitrogen 
is in an organic form. Such nitrogen will become 
available in hot weather in late Summer, and the wood 
growth may be too soft and tender to withstand the 
Winter. This rank growth in late Summer might not 
be desirable in a peachtree, but it is just exactly what 
we want in a corn crop. Hot days and nights of late 
Summer are essentially “ corn-growing weather”, and 
we can understand why manures containing organic 
nitrogen like stable manure, or a sod of any kind, are 
naturally suited to the corn crop. Farmers have 
learned from observation and experience that corn 
does particularly well with manure or sod, without 
considering why this is so. As in many other farm 
practices, common sense and science have reached 
common ground together. After all, true science is 
only the best exponent of what we call common sense ! 
© 
Modern scientific discoveries are to be brought to 
the aid of the Government in various ways in case of 
war. Not the least interesting and practical way is 
their utilization in connection with the preservation 
of food supplies for the use of troops. The necessity 
for this is much greater when the field of operations 
is in a warm climate. The greatest need in order to 
keep an army in a state of health and vigor is to have 
sound, wholesome food, and a lack of this is sure to 
bring on disease and seriously to cripple an army. 
Army officials have been investigating the sterilizing 
and packing of meats for army use. A Kansas City 
firm has prepared large quantities for the British 
army, which were used in the Soudan. The details of 
the process are secret, but after being prepared, the 
meat is packed in tins, and hermetically sealed. It is 
reported that a contract for a large quantity of these 
meats will soon be made by this Government. An¬ 
other scheme is the putting up in tins of coffee all 
ready prepared with sugar and milk in proper propor¬ 
tions for use. All that is necessary is to heat it, as it 
is so prepared as to keep perfectly for any length of 
time. Probably other needed food supplies will be 
prepared and put up in the same manner, and the fur¬ 
nishing of palatable and healthful food will go far 
toward maintaining the health and efficiency of the 
army. 
O 
Wiiat is Spain and who are the Spaniards ? A small, 
poor and proud country, in southwestern Europe, 
whose people are attempting the dangerous experi¬ 
ment of trying to live on their past history. The 
Spaniards have done much to make modern history, 
but have been unable to reap permanent advantage 
from their past labors. One by one, their American 
colonies have cut off their mother’s apron strings, 
until now Cuba and Porto Rico alone are left. It has 
been said that the best thing Spain has lent America 
is the old Merino sheep, which Americans have changed 
to suit their needs, while Spaniards have been con¬ 
tent to let him remain as he was. The trouble with 
the average Spaniard seems to be that he mistakes 
dreams for deeds. He imagines that his country has 
changed the thought of the world, though in truth, 
Spain has hardly given the world a new thought or a 
real blessing since the days of Columbus. Our com¬ 
mercial relations with Spain may be briefly stated. 
Last year, she sold us $3,631,973 worth of goods— 
mostly fruits, nuts and wines. She bought of us dur¬ 
ing the same time, $10,889,610 worth of goods—includ¬ 
ing $8,276,566 worth of cotton. It is absurd almost to 
the verge of sadness that this shadowy nation of boast¬ 
ing dreamers should attempt to fight with a great, 
energetic nation like our own. Probably any other 
European nation, under similar circumstances, would 
see the folly of such fighting, and get out of Cuba at 
once. 
© 
BREVITIES. 
Old Christopher Columbus found for Spain an empire vast; 
He only had his labor for his pains. 
The proud, ungrateful Spaniard took his gift and, at the last, 
Degraded him and sent him home in chains. 
Down through the crawling centuries the bloody hand of Spain 
Has held its grasp for thrice a hundred years; 
Her linger marks on history have left an ugly stain 
Of anguish—made indelible with tears. 
She never brought a blessing to the new and hopeful world; 
She never lifted men to higher thought; 
The pirate fought her battles, and the driver’s slave whip curled 
Around the only freedom that she brought. 
And one by one, her colonies, crushed down by Spanish greed, 
Have risen up to cut themselves away; • 
And we, whose sires won liberty, have wished them all God speed 
A mighty voice is ringiug—hear it say— 
“ Move on! Get out of Cuba! Pack your cruelty and shame 
Within your flag, and take it o’er the sea; 
With tears of humble penitence, bleach out your blackened name; 
The hour has struck, and Cuba shall be free ! ” 
Soft metal is hardest to scour. 
Don’t turn the stock to pasture too early. 
A lamentable layman—the surplus rooster. 
How are chickens propagated ? By layers ! 
You will die on a diet of coal-tar butter dyes. 
A dog will change the cat into a raise her back. 
Nitrate of soda seems to be a good manure for renters. 
“ Yes,” said the fruit grower, “ Prohibition would stay man’s 
wine sapping! ” 
Out of 1,300,183 dozens of eggs exported last year, 953,593 dozens 
were sent to Cuba. 
Cardiac— close to the heart. The cardy act brings you close to 
the old cow’s heart. 
“ As large as a hen’s egg ! ” How large is that ? The Bantam 
hen’s cackle calls it as large as a house ! 
A cow that cannot make 200 pounds of butter in a year is a 
boarder—at your expense. Stand by to repel boarders! 
There is a discussion on about the use of formalin for soaking 
linings of butter tubs to prevent mold. Better let it alone. 
Don’t sow Crimson clover in Spring. It is by nature a cool- 
weather plant. Hot weather will make it head out too soon. 
A question for the poultry experts: If it is so easy to make hens 
lay in December and January, why are eggs so high during these 
months ? 
Will some one who knows please stand up and tell us why 
most farm writers feel that they must tell a “ big story ” every 
time they write ? Most of us are average farmers. These stories 
of uninterrupted successes are too much for us. What do these 
men do with their mistakes? 
The fruit jellies sold at the stores are often the meanest frauds. 
Pumpkin, potato and glucose do duty as- raspberry, orange or 
currant. An old trick is to put in a few seeds of the counter¬ 
feited fruit. The hardest thing about it is that the public will 
not pay a fair difference in price between this fraud and the 
genuine article. 
Seed of Red, White and Alsike clover may be stored two years 
without very serious loss in vitality, provided it is kept in a dry, 
dark, cool place. Weevils rarely attack such seed. We do not 
advise, however, holding clover seed for more than two years. 
The seed of Crimson clover is considerably weaker than that of 
the other species, and should not be held more than one year. 
