January 2 
8 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
K National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homea. 
Established 1850 . 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Editor. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet, ( 
Mrs. E. T. Royle, ^Associates. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, 
equal to 8s. 6d., or 8% marks, or 10% francs. 
“A SQUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement in this paper is 
backed by a responsible person. But to make doubly 
sure we will make good any loss to paid subscribers 
sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler advertising 
in our columns, and any such swindler will be publicly 
exposed. We protect subscribers against rogues, but w'e 
do not guarantee to adjust trifling differences between 
subscribers and honest responsible advertisers. Neither 
will we be responsible for the debts of honest bankrupts 
sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint must 
be sent to us within one month of the time of the trans¬ 
action, and you must have mentioned The Rural New- 
Yorker when writing the advertiser. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remittance 
is for, should appear in every letter. 
Remittances may be made in money order, express 
order, personal check or bank draft. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
409 Pearl Street. New York. 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2, 1904. 
One Day’s Work on the Farm. 
After much discussion and study the Judges have 
awarded the prizes offered for Che best essay on the 
above topic to the following persons: 
James E. Taggart, Ohio.$12 
Susan Brown Bobbins, Massachusetts . . lO 
Mrs. E. S. Bemis, Kansas ...... 8 
Mrs. M. F. Poinsett, Oregon. 5 
In making their decision the judges tried to keep in 
mind the real object in offering these prizes. This 
was to draw out plain, homely stories of life on the 
average farm. Many excellent articles were submitted 
which while true pictures of one side of farm life, 
were probably not typical of average conditions. Some 
of these will be printed later. We have never receiv¬ 
ed a collection of articles showing more genuine liter¬ 
ary ability or cleaner descriptive power. It was a 
treat to read them, and our readers will agree with 
this when they are printed. 
* 
Some readers attempt to defend the robin against 
the charge of being a fruit thief by quoting figures 
from ornithologists’ reports. These gentlemen killed 
many robins in various States, and examined the con¬ 
tents of their stomachs. They found a comparatively 
low per cent of cultivated fruit, and therefore con¬ 
clude that tbe robin is not a robber. The great trou¬ 
ble with such figures is that the birds are usually 
taken in the woods—far from fruit farms or gardens. 
Let the ornithologists kill the same number of robins 
within gunshot of cherry tree or small-fruit patch and 
see what they find. Who will pay attention to these 
careful figures when he sees, with his own eyes, the 
birds stuffing on the fruit? At one time farmers were 
satisfied with such arguments—at least they did not 
talk back. Now they know better, and will take fewer 
things for granted. 
• 
It has been asked whether the opponents of the 
plan to enlarge the Erie Canal at State expense will 
make any efforts to carry on the fight. We under¬ 
stand that good lawyers declare that the act voted 
on by the people last Fall is unconstitutional. An 
effort will probably be made to prove this. Naturally 
the farmers of the State are opposed to the barge 
canal scheme. A great majority of them voted 
against it. We also believe that a good majority of 
actual taxpayers voted against it. It was carried by 
the votes of men who will shoulder little if any of the 
burdens of taxation. The farmers are, therefore, jus¬ 
tified in testing the constitutionality of the act. If 
the election was illegal of course the scheme for dig¬ 
ging the canal will fail. If the election be declared 
legal we shall have to abide by it unless it is clearly 
shown that the money appropriated will never pay 
for the job! 
• 
The friend who told us why he became a farmer, 
on page 881 , last volume, gives as one reason for an 
inclination to leave the farm in youth the absence of 
reading matter. This touches a very important point. 
If a farm boy finds little to encourage mental growth, 
either in general lines or in the literature of his fu¬ 
ture profession, he will, if naturally alert and pro¬ 
gressive, decide that the farm is no place for one of 
his caliber. If, on the other hand, he is mentally 
sluggish, there is nothing to arouse him to better 
things, and if he remains on the farm he naturally 
becomes one of the “farmin’-don’t-pay” pessimists, 
of whom a single man in a rural community is one 
too many. If we were trying to educate a boy to stay 
on the farm we should try to inoculate him with the 
reading habit in early life; guide his taste, remem¬ 
bering that a healthy boy must sometimes spice solid 
information with more exciting adventure, and above 
all supply him with the literature of country life. 
When he learns the underlying science of familiar 
farm practice he will certainly gain in respect for his 
calling, and gradually learn to regard it as a monu¬ 
mental life work, in which a man may continue to 
learn anew to fourscore. 
• 
In old books on farming we find reports of the good 
effect of using stable manure on clover. For example, 
in an old edition of “Talks On Manure,” in describing 
how manure “brought in clover,” the author says: 
On looking into the matter more closely we found that 
there was more or less clover all over the field, but 
where the manure was not used It could hardly be seen. 
The plants were small and the Timothy hid them from 
view. But where the manure was used these plants of 
clover had been stimulated in their growth until they 
covered the ground. The leaves were broad and vigorous, 
while in the other case they were small and almost dried 
up. This is probably the right explanation. The manure 
did not "bring in the clover”; it simply increased the 
growth of that already in the soil. It shows the value 
of manure for grass. 
At that time no one knew clearly why the manure 
did so much for the clover. Scientific knowledge has 
grown since then. Now we understand that the ma¬ 
nure contained the germs or bacteria which live on 
the clover’s roots and stimulate its growth. Manur¬ 
ing is a sort of “inoculating.” The manure not only 
adds these germs, but also puts the soil in better con¬ 
dition for their growth. Who will say that a farmer 
is not better off for understanding the why of this 
important thing in addition to the “how” of it? 
* 
A New England farmer recently gave this good 
piece of advice: “Tell farmers that they must learn to 
do at least one thing about their farm well.” There 
is sound common sense in this. When you stop to 
think of it, how useless it is for a farmer to suppose 
he can ever “know it all.” Every year adds to the 
great store of knowledge about farm matters. The 
farmer who tries to keep track of it all will have 
nothing but a thin smattering of any one thing. Sup¬ 
pose a farmer is producing six or eight different crops, 
and has no special pride in any one. His work comes 
to be more and more mechanical, and while he may 
succeed, and while his farm may show evidence of 
prosperity, neither the man nor the farm can be what 
it could be if one crop or one thing could be studied 
until the principles were mastered. Here is a man 
who produces wonderful crops of grass. Here is an¬ 
other whose onions or strawberries are celebrated. 
Here is still another whose heifers and cows are 
eagerly sought because everyone knows that they are 
superior. How does it come that these men are able 
to put superior value into these things? They learned 
to do one thing welll They picked out the one thing 
in their farming which appealed to them, and in 
which they took pride, and almost without knowing 
how they did it mastered the principles upon which 
success is founded. Yes, indeed —learn to do one thing 
well —young farmer or old farmer—that means the 
salvation of the farm and all that belongs to it. There 
are 1,000 roots to every one thing. Dig them out and 
make them bear fruit 
• 
Who would have thought 15 years ago that the 
question of power spraying would be discussed seri¬ 
ously as it is on page 1? It only shows how the need 
of spraying has been brought home to the people, and 
how the business of fruit growing has increased. It 
seems that at least six different powers are on the 
market. Small engines of steam, gasoline or kerosene 
and steam boilers are mounted on wagons for spray¬ 
ing purposes. Compressed air is forced directly into 
the spraying tank by a powerful engine, or stored 
under the wagon like a mighty popgun by gearing on 
the wheels. Liquid carbonic acid gas is used in tubes 
like a soda water fountain, and there may be other 
forms of power which are not reported. It is also to 
be said that the plan of blowing dust upon the trees 
is gaining ground in some sections. When a man 
comes to ask what power he should buy, he should 
remember that each one of these different methods 
is the result of an effort to meet some special demand. 
For example, fruit growers on rough land, especially 
liable to be soft in Spring, may find that one of the 
compressed-air powers is best for them, since it means 
a lighter draft. In the same way it will be found 
that the various engines or the gas devices, or even 
electric machines, are most useful under certain well- 
defined conditions. It is well enough to add that 
some of our best fruit growers are not fully satisfied 
with any of the machines yet on the market. They 
are using a power, but believe that a better one will 
be developed In time. All this goes to show how 
senseless it would be for The R. N.-Y. to try to tell 
a reader just what power he should buy! We com¬ 
mend the advice given by Mr. Loop on page 1. 
The first general convention of persons Interested 
in mosquito extermination was held in the Board of 
Trade rooms. New York City, December 16. Papers 
were read and discussion elicited on all questions in¬ 
volved in the abatement and final extermination of 
these disease-carrying pests that diminish the habita¬ 
bility of many of the fairest portions of the earth. It 
is proven beyond reasonable doubt that certain spe¬ 
cies of mosquito are the chief if not the only medium 
for inoculating humanity with the germs of malaria, 
yellow fever and perhaps of other serious diseases. 
By concerted and sustained action mosquitoes may 
be practically banished from any locality. While the 
war on mosquitoes is still in the experimental stage 
it is shown that systematic efforts for their suppres¬ 
sion are as likely to give good returns as any form of 
public energy. Millions of acres of the most fertile 
soil and countless localities in the temperate and 
tropical zones are now undesirable for human habita¬ 
tion on account of this ubiquitous pest. A world-wide 
war of extermination against mosquitoes would be a 
campaign befitting the enlightenment of the age, and 
doubtless prove one of the greatest practicable boons 
to humanity. The outcome of this first convention 
will be wide dissemination of exact information on the 
important subject, and the probable organization of 
a National association of mosquito exterminators. 
* 
We have referred to efforts now being made to im¬ 
prove the conditions of Irish small farmers and peas¬ 
ants. Year by year the more enterprising of the Irish 
people have been coming to this country—because they 
lacked opportunity at home, and because their friends 
send back evidence of success. Those who have the 
best interests of Ireland at heart now see that it is far 
better to make the conditions at home such that Irish¬ 
men can make a good living there. Thus, instead of 
urging immigration, they are willing to contribute in 
aid of cooperative farm labor in Ireland. This work 
is very encouraging and we believe that in time the 
Irish farmer and laborer will become far more pros¬ 
perous if not independent. The R. N.-Y. has always 
advocated the plan of developing people at home. We 
are sorry to see men or money go away from country 
neighborhoods when both are needed there for work 
or investment. It would be better for this country if 
influential Jews, Italians or Americans from other Eu¬ 
ropean countries would follow the example of those 
who are helping these plans for a happier Ireland. 
These men owe much to America, and they must 
recognize the menace to society when thousands of 
Europeans who know little of American habits and 
hopes are herded together in the large cities. Many 
of such immigrants should remain in the old country. 
Those who do come here should be scattered and min¬ 
gled with the people, so that their musty notions of 
living may be well aired. 
BREVITIES. 
Before you make any New Year’s promises observe 
how those of last year came out. 
When the silage is short do you cut down the daily ra¬ 
tion or feed full ration for a short season. Why? 
Both ends certainly meet in the paper which contains 
advertisements of liquor and also of “drunkenness cured.” 
Mr. Cottrell tells us how Red clover leads the way 
for Alfalfa. One is strong in youth and the other mighty 
in manhood. 
Much of the "medicine” which life forces us to take is 
prepared by our own acts of folly. Let us make no 
faces over it. 
Why invest in “mining stocks” when your own farm 
needs draining? If you must dig for gold do it in the 
ditch and plant tile. 
The law decides that a passenger cannot collect dam¬ 
ages for a railroad accident when he gets up from his 
seat before the train stops. Sit down till the Journey 
ends! 
President Roosevelt seems to think that some of the 
land robbers out West can be punished and also forced 
to give up the land they have stolen. Here’s hoping he 
is right. 
A New Year’s hope from the editors—that our corre¬ 
spondents will please refrain from using a lead pencil in 
writing copy. It is a hard job to read the marks of a 
soft pencil on soft paper! 
Yoti«« man—when opportunity knocks at your door 
wake up at cnce and see what he offers. He comes to you 
in humble places. You do not always know him. Be 
courteous therefore to strangers! 
Give old New Jersey one good mark. When a number 
of wealthy “sportsmen” arranged for the humanizing 
amusement of chasing a tame deer with dogs enough 
special constables were sworn in to prevent it, and the 
intrepid stag hunters had to pursue the ferocious aniseed 
bag Instead. 
Galveston, Tex., is going to protect herself from fu¬ 
ture calamities like the great storm of 1900 by raising 
the grade of the entire city and building a sea wall 3% 
miles long, 17 feet above mean low tide. Both are stu¬ 
pendous undertakings, showing the indomitable grit of 
her citizens. 
We have all known that hens thrive on bone and meat. 
It is also well understood that when cows gnaw bones or 
old boards a few feeds of fine ground bone will cure their 
“abnormal appetite.” Now it seems (page 16) that dried 
blood and tankage are fed to calves and older cattle with 
good results. 
