420 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
June 11 
The Rural New-Yorker. 
TEE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-In-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
Frank H. Valentine, I . 
Mrs. E. T. Roylk, j-Associate Editors. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
PRICE, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or 8Vi marks, or 10*4 francs. 
ADVERTISING RATE8. 
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.," 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. 
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, .TUNE 11, 1808. 
All conmunications intended for E. S. Carman, should 
he mailed to River Edge, Bergen County, N. J., from 
now until October 1. 
© 
In playing golf, much the same motions are indulged 
in that are required in chopping wood or hoeing corn. 
Yet golf is fun to he desired, while the ax and the 
hoe are to be despised ! Our suggestion is that our 
scientific men separate the special golf bacteria, pre¬ 
serve them in pure cultures, and inoculate the boys 
and hired men ! How the woodpile would grow, and 
how the weeds would wilt under such a stimulus ! 
© 
The clothing and equipping of the newly enrolled 
troops have caused some tall hustling on the part of 
the Government. Hut this wasn’t a circumstance to 
the hustling done at the mills of Mr. Thomas Kitson, 
a Stroudsburg, I*a., woolen manufacturer. At 6:30 in 
the morning, a half dozen shearers started to shear an 
equal number of sheep which were in the rear of the 
mill. The wool then passed through the hands of the 
sorter and scourer, went to the dry room, to the pick¬ 
ers, through the cards, was spun, spooled, dressed, 
and went through the whole regular process. Then 
it went to the loom, was woven, the cloth fulled, 
washed, extracted, dried, sheared, pressed, and fin¬ 
ished. The cloth then went to the tailor who cut, 
fitted and made the suit, and delivered it in just six 
hours and four minutes after the shearing begun. It 
is said that the nearest approach to this time hitherto 
was about eight hours. 
0 
Mr. Geo. Abbott, one of the largest milk retailers 
in Philadelphia, sends us comments upon our remarks 
on the delivery of milk in glass bottles, and upon the 
recent contest in Philadelphia. He says : 
It is very well to strive to eliminate the defects of any system, 
though it be one nearly perfect. As to the Philadelphia move¬ 
ment against bottles, Hainan was hung, not Mordecal. The move¬ 
ment was set on foot by a few milk dealers who did not want to 
adopt the bottle system; for all who are informed upon the sub¬ 
ject know that is a very exacting system. Only dealers who are 
ready to supply clean, rich milk have any use for the milk bottle. 
But those dealers who attempted to force the ancient bucket upon 
a bottle-appreciating public, are now themselves bottlers of milk. 
The plan of campaign was to secure an interdict from the Board 
of Health prohibiting, or at least discouraging, the serving of 
milk in bottles. The question was purely a bacteriological one, 
and no bacteriologist could be found that was willing to indorse 
the slovenly bucket system. On the contrary, all held that the 
bottle system was preferable. As a result of the movement, the 
use of the milk bottle is more firmly established than ever before 
in the graces of an appreciative public. 
© 
At this season of the year, there are always demands 
for authentic information regarding fruit prospects. 
Western New York is a vast fruit garden, and the crop 
it produces has much to do with the market supplies. 
Mr. S. D. Willard, of Ontario County, N. Y., writing 
of fruit prospects, says that the outlook for the fruit 
growers is not satisfactory. Currants promise a light 
crop except Pres. Wilder. Gooseberries are good, with 
a tendency to mildew. Lombard, Bradshaw, and some 
other plums are a failure; Reine Claude and a few 
other sorts promise a partial crop. Asa whole, plums 
in that region are about one-third last season’s prod¬ 
uct. Bartlett pears are scarcely more than one-third 
of a setting. Kieffer shows up best of any variety. 
Cherries are not equal to the crop of ’97, but afford a 
fair showing. Apples promise well, but it is yet too 
early to venture an opinion as to the result. The Tent 
caterpillar, in its ravages, exceeds anything he has 
ever known. They have, for several weeks, been en¬ 
gaged in destroying its nests by a systematic weekly 
effort, and have handled nearly 2,000 of them, while 
with the masses neglect has been the order of the day, 
and the result remains to be seen. The curl leaf has 
worked injury to the peach orchards beyond descrip¬ 
tion, in many instances, entirely defoliating the trees, 
with a probability of greatly reducing the crop. 
0 
Every man who makes changes in crops or methods, 
knows that he must go outside of his own farm for 
information. He must learn from others. The changes 
that take place in agriculture are usually the result 
of “ book farming.” Some man reads about what is 
being done in another part of the country, and does 
his best to adapt the new method. At last he suc¬ 
ceeds, and the neighbors finally follow him, and among 
them, the new crop or method is developed. Thus 
these new ideas get into books and papers, and jump 
about the country very much as birds carry new 
seeds or insects from place to place. Every farmer 
must do more or less of this “ book farming” if he 
expects to keep up with the procession. If he doesn’t 
take a little something for granted, and venture a 
little on the advice of others, he will tail the crowd. 
© 
A sharper in this city was recently able to obtain 
insurance and credit on a few cubic feet of ordinary 
air. He fitted up a store with the shelves apparently 
well filled with goods packed in cases and boxes. He 
had the goods insured and borrowed money on them. 
Then he disappeared. His creditors found that the 
boxes were mostly empty. A few held tangible goods, 
but the majority held nothing but air ! Usually a 
rogue obtains money on the strength of promises 
which appear to be sound and full. When pricked by 
the truth, they are found to be filled with air. Too 
often the damage is done before these promises are 
pricked. Every week, we hear of farmers who have 
been victimized by bogus agents, creamerymen, and 
sharpers of all sorts. As a rule, these humbugs suc¬ 
ceed because they promise more than honest men can 
afford to promise. Time after time, farmers who 
ought to know better, accept such promises for per¬ 
formance, and pay dearly for doing it. 
O 
We have received complaints of the prevalence of 
the disease known as Peach curl, from the peach dis¬ 
tricts of Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan and New 
York ; this trouble appears to be unusually prevalent. 
While the cause and cure of curl are not yet definitely 
settled, it will be observed that the trouble usually 
appears after a cold, late Spring, particularly when 
the wood was not thoroughly ripened during the pre¬ 
vious Fall. Spraying with Bordeaux Mixture before 
the leaf buds unfold, following with successive spray¬ 
ings at intervals of about 10 days, until July 1, will 
be beneficial. As a rule, the curled leaves fall off, to 
be followed by a later growth during July and, in 
many cases, the crop does not materially suffer from 
the curl. As the trouble is supposed to be of fungous 
origin, fallen leaves affected with curl should be 
burned. Some orchardists still hold that the curl is 
a symptom, rather than a disease. In Michigan, it 
always appears to be most prevalent after exposure 
to sharp lake winds in early Spring. It is also noted 
after excessive overbearing the previous season, or 
after a Fall which does not permit the full ripening 
of the wood. Anything that tends to lower the con¬ 
stitution of the tree would appear to induce curl. 
© 
The recent decision of the United States Supreme 
Court respecting oleomargarine, is very sweeping in 
its character. It distinctly decides that any law pro¬ 
hibiting the passage of oleo from one State into an¬ 
other, or which prohibits the sale of oleo in any man¬ 
ner, is unconstitutional and void. The decision of the 
court applies only to its sale in its original packages, 
but in this decision, the following occurs: “ How 
small may be an original package it is not necessary 
here to determine.” Information from reliable sources 
affirms that, had the case come up in the form of the 
sale by the single pound, the decision would have been 
the same. The case appealed, and upon which the 
decision is based, admits only of the consideration of 
the original package. This decision apparently means 
that any one may send out of the State, buy oleo in the 
“original package,” and sell it in any State, prohibi¬ 
tory laws to the contrary notwithstanding. The party 
thus buying may not sell it again, as it loses its right 
as an original package after the first sale by the per¬ 
son who brings it into the State. What, then, is an 
“ original package ” ? There is no law which decides, 
and the United States Supreme Court pretty plainly 
indicates in its decision that the size of such a package 
of oleo has never yet been determined by that or any 
other court, but the court practically decides that a 
single pound may be an “ original package.” If, then, 
any one can sell a 10-pound package, it will greatly 
add to the difficulty in enforcing the State laws. In 
its decision, and at every point, the United States 
Court is careful to state that its decisions refer only 
to the sale of oleo as oleo, and by inference at least, says 
that its sale as butter is a fraud, and this may be 
regulated by any and all States. 
© 
Reference was made, in a recent issue, to the re¬ 
freshments, in the form of liquor, mint and sugar, 
provided for our soldiers on their way through a Ken¬ 
tucky town. If there are still people who believe that 
men fight best on such stuff, they may well read an 
account of the battle of Atbara, where the Anglo- 
Egyptian forces recently defeated the Dervishes. The 
Sirdar, Sir Herbert Kitchener, is a believer in total 
abstinence, so, when some misguided persons sent a 
quantity of beer and liquor to the men, it was poured 
out on the unappreciative sands of the desert. The 
men, who had been marching all night, were refreshed 
with tea and coffee, made from filtered Nile water ; 
then they demolished the Dervishes. Another dis¬ 
tinguished man who believes that total abstainers 
make the best soldiers is the British Commander-in- 
Chief, Lord Wolseley. 
© 
Dr. R. C. Kedzie, of the Michigan Agricultural Col¬ 
lege, says that the following note from a miller re¬ 
cently appeared in a Michigan paper: 
Attention! Blended Flour.— Owing to the extensive use of 
Spring-wheat flour, which we learn is used by mixing with Winter- 
wheat flour by the consumer, also the extensive demand for such 
a blended flour by outside markets, we have concluded to make 
our Genuine flour of that variety in the future. We will mix a cer¬ 
tain amount of Spring-wheat flour with our Genuine while being 
manufactured, so that it will be thoroughly blended, making a 
strong, white, nutritious flour, and will be sold within the reach 
of all. We will also exchange this same flour with any customer, 
giving 36 pounds of flour, 10 of bran, and three of middlings for 
each bushel of'60-pound wheat. We ask a trial, and would caution 
the public not to pay fictitious prices for other so-called mixed 
flours. 
What does that mean ? This miller is using the so- 
called “corn flour” which is the white southern corn 
ground very fine, and well sifted. It is prepared in 
the South, and sent to northern millers for the pur¬ 
pose of adulterating wheat flour. What this miller 
would really give for the wheat is 27 pounds of wheat 
flour, nine pounds of “ corn flour”, 10 pounds of bran, 
and three of middlings. This flour adulteration is as 
dangerous to the wheat grower as unrestricted “ oleo ” 
is to the dairyman. 
© 
BREVITIES. 
Pap went tc an institute, some one rubbed him hard, 
’Cause they ain’t no sparrer grass out in our backyard; 
All on us had teased and begged—jest tried every way 
Fer a taste o’ garden truck—Pap said ’twouldn’t pay; 
But they hit him awful hard at thet institute. 
He went off an’ swapped a cow—takin’ on ez boot, 
Hundred roots o’ sparrer grass, set 'em in the yard; 
Cow he gut ain’t worth a cent —must hev hit him hard. 
Now we’re eatin’ sparrer grass by the peck each Hay; 
Pap’s quit eatin’ pie an’ meat; orter hear him say, 
“ Guess I'll take more sparrer grass," passin’ up his plate. 
Health is better! Sammy’s blood was in dreadful state, 
Kep’ a-breakin’ out in biles —now his skin ez fair 
Ez a lily; baby, too, don’t need half the care, 
Jack don’t cry—the little twins don’t give half the sass, 
Ain’t no sermon ever done what thet sparrer grass 
Done fer us. Pap uster think gardenin’ wuz waste, 
Now he won’t do nothin’ else sense he’s gut the taste! 
Brighter days fer all our folks now has come to pass 
Sense Pap swapped that cow and tuck boot in sparrer grass. 
'Overhaul the mower. 
It’s the last laugh that lasts. 
“ All cut and dried! ”—the hay crop. 
There are no flies on me, says M. Pyrethrum. 
The hog’s squeal indicates a pen chant for food! 
The first vice president—^“ His Satanic Majesty! ” 
The weeds are afire with life—turn the hoes on them! 
Discharge the butter color. Any old cow can use June grass 
for coloring. 
“A chunk of farm wisdom ”! It should be pulverized before it 
can be made useful. 
“ Piece!— a small meal or light lunch ”. Blessed are the “piece” 
makers, say the children. 
Cleaned by the soap of honest, thoughtful toil, hearts are not 
soiled that work close to the soil. 
It isn’t the sun that “ makes the hay ”—it's the wind. The sun 
burns it—the wind carries the moisture out of it. 
Well-cured Timothy hay is mighty fragrant stuff. It won’t 
take it long to absorb the smells from a hog pen. 
Remember that a three-inch tile isn’t large enough for a kitchen 
drain! A one-foot tile is none too large! Don’t forget this! 
Mu. Henry Stewart says that he keeps little chicks on a clean 
matched floor with the joints filled with hot tar. Result—no gapes! 
Secretary of the Navy Long would like a short war. The con¬ 
tractors want to prolong their business of supplying the “ short¬ 
ening.” 
Norman J. Colman, formerly United States Commissioner of 
Agriculture, has received from the French Minister of Agriculture 
the cross of Officer of Merit in Agriculture. 
The Jersey breeders object to the shape of that so-called “ typi¬ 
cal Jersey” on page 381. They say that she may be a good per¬ 
former, but she is not true to the ideal type. We hope to print 
some pictures of what they do consider ideal. 
Have you sent that letter to Gov. Black urging the appointment 
of Prof. M. V. Slingerlaud as State Entomologist? Do so at once! 
The injurious insects are nearer to your farm than the Spaniards 
will ever be. We want skilled bug fighters on guard! 
