1904. 
751 
Hope Farm Notes 
Odds and Ends. —The cooler weather opens 
the pork market. We expect to begin to 
slaughter this week. The pigs have made a 
firm, solid growth, not large, but about all 
we have a right to expect from the food and 
care they have had. .' . . It is now high 
time to get the pullets into Winter quarters. 
We let our pullets run at large until the first 
frosts. They get better size and frame than 
they would if shut in a small yard. The 
young roosters should have been eaten or sold 
by this time. We have only a few left, and 
the older hens will follow them into pie. 
I spoke recently of a patch of 400 young 
currant bushes among which were grown po¬ 
tatoes and sweet corn. We are setting pot¬ 
ted plants of Marshall strawberries between 
the hills of currants—where the potatoes 
grew. Those plants will not be permitted to 
run, but will form large hills. This variety 
does well in the shade. . . . Here is a 
case which recently came to notice. A gar¬ 
dener in our country hired a piece of land 
last year on which to grow corn. It is a cus¬ 
tom here for a man with a few acres de¬ 
voted to truck crops to hire a piece of sod 
ground at a distance and grow corn for grain 
and fodder. This is the practice, though I 
do not think it pays. This man paid a cash 
rent of .$(50. lie plowed the land, used some 
fertilizer and planted corn. The season was 
wet and cold, and it is doubtful if he got 
$15 worth of grain. This year another man 
hired the same held and planted corn again. 
He has a grand crop, which will pay a profit 
even at the fearful cost of rent. The second 
man benefited by the first man’s working and 
fertilizing. No doubt the first man was dis¬ 
couraged, yet if he had kept on he would have 
won out. I have never known such a crop 
of nuts as we have this year. The chestnut 
trees are crowded and the hickories and wal¬ 
nuts are well filled. The squirrels have be¬ 
gun early, and they are at work from daylight 
to dark providing for the Winter. They have 
more sense than many humans I know who 
regard life’s chestnut tree as a place to sit in 
the shade and eat everything in sight. Those 
who believe in “signs” say that this heavy 
nut crop means another hard Winter. I hope 
not—the last one ought to stand as a record. 
. At the same time I shall not plant 
any fruit trees this Fall. The cold Winter 
killed about 50 and stunted many more. I 
think I shall do better to wait until Spring 
for planting. One bleak spot on the brow of 
the hill gets the full force of the cold wind. 
It was on this spot that our worst loss oc¬ 
curred. Spring planting will be safe there. 
. . . We expect to hold the Hubbard 
squash until about Thanksgiving. At present 
the price is too low. The squash is to be 
kept in a light, dry cellar on racks. It has 
not been hurt by the frost, and ought to bring 
good prices later. . . . The question of 
prices this year is a mixed one. The prices 
we pay for grain are surely high enough to 
suit those who sell it. The prices for our 
own crops have run low all through the sea¬ 
son. Now they are picking up in consequence 
of the early frost. Tomatoes have nearly 
doubled. Peppers are still low, but will soon 
rise. Onions are higher than last year. Our 
local hay market is not much disturbed by 
prices quoted for baled hay. We can prob¬ 
ably sell what loose hay we have for $20 par 
ton before Winter is over. . . . The best 
of our windfall Baldwin apples have brought 
fair prices for cooking fruit. Much of this 
must be credited to the mulch under tin* trees. 
The fruit falls on this soft coat of grass and 
is not bruised. While a Baldwin apple in 
October is not the best for eating out of the 
hand, it is excellent for making pies or sauce. 
. . . I have ordered some of the “limoid” 
mentioned in the article on spraying with lime 
and kerosene and we hope to give this mix¬ 
ture a full trial this Fall and during the Win¬ 
ter. ... A strange accident occurred the 
other day. The pump which works in the 
driven well got out of business in some way. 
and we pulled it up to investigate. When the 
top was unfastened the entire lower part 
cylinder, sucker, rod and all dropped right 
down the well 142 feet. What to do with it 
is a question ! 
Talk From Lower Life. —Since his acci¬ 
dent old Major has hobbled about the orchard, 
nursing his sore foot and meditating upon 
the vicissitudes of life. Chance brought him to 
the little pen where Billy Berkshire and four 
of his friends are training for the knife. 
Major sees little grain these days. Billy lay 
sprawled out in the sun, fat and indolent—too 
lazy to get up and eat the ears of sweet corn 
which Charlie had thrown in. 
“Give me a couple of those ears of corn, 
Billy?” said the old horse. 
”Xo, no!” grunted Billy. “I like to look 
at them if I can’t eat them.” 
“But you would be much better off to let 
me have them!” 
“How do you make that out?" 
“I have seen much of life. Among othe • 
things 1 have seen hogs fed for slaughter. 
They stuff you with grain now so that you 
may be fat enough to kill. If you were wise 
you would eat nothing—starve until every rib 
stuck out. Life is worth more than corn ! 
“You must take me for a fool. I am up to 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
HAVE LOW SUPPLY CAN 
AND MAKE MORE MONEY 
by getting more cream— 
Hold World’s Record 
for clean skimming 
SAVE MORE MONEY 
by wearing longer and costing less for 
repairs than others, therefore are the 
MOST PROFITABLE TO BUY 
Handsome illustrated catalogue free for the asking 
W« have transfer houses at many different points thus 
insuring prompt delivery to any section 
your game, old horse. You want that corn— 
that’s all you are after. These folks think 
more of me than they do of you. You’re 
jealous—that’s all.” 
“But can’t you sec why they are stuffing 
you? There is no sentiment about these men. 
If you think that corn is a tribute to your 
intelligence or beauty you make a mistake." 
“Oh, go ou! I am it, old horse, that’s all. 
Why should these men feed me in this way if 
they didn't hold me in high respect. They 
think everything of me. It isn't my fault 
that they give you the cold shoulder. I am 
king of the barnyard, and you are only an 
underling. Go off, old horse, and let me 
sleep." 
So Billy turned over for a new nap quite 
unable to analyze Charlie's satisfied look as 
he watched the big porker. Old Major walked 
off nodding ids wise head. Some frosty morn¬ 
ing Billy s views of life will be rudely shak¬ 
en up. The knife will gleam at his throat. 
Old Major in his stall will hear the screams 
and shrug his shoulders as he thinks how 
many of his own illusions have been dis¬ 
pelled. h. w. c. 
NOTES FROM CALIFORNIA. 
I have just finished reading Tiie Ii. N.-Y. 
and find it very interesting. 
Williams’ Favorite apple interests me be¬ 
cause I have a tree not yet bearing in my ex¬ 
perimental orchard. There is a charm about 
waiting for new varieties to bear and a sat¬ 
isfaction in making their acquaintance when 
they do appear that amply repays one for the 
trouble of planting and cultivating. 
House Heating is also peculiarly interest¬ 
ing just now, as we expect to build a house 
soon, and while we do not need much heat in 
this mild climate, it is still necessary to have 
some, and we have settled on Hie hot-air sys¬ 
tem as probably the best for us. We have 
been planning our house since last January, 
and have just arrived at a point where we 
feel satisfied to let the architect make his 
first blue prints. He probably thinks that we 
are deliberate in our movements, but we are 
not willing to be hurried iu planning a habi¬ 
tation in which we expect to stay the rest of 
our lives. 
Good Roads are of more importance than 
most people know, and still we have object 
lessons every day of the negligence of our 
supervisors and the incapacity of road mas¬ 
ters to keep our roads in good repair. Mr. 
Mapes's plan of working a road after a rain 
is a good one. and lias been amply proven by 
the roadmaster ou a section of the New 
Almaden road, which leads from San Jose to 
the New Almaden quicksilver mines, some¬ 
thing over 10 miles. After every considerable 
rain, when in right condition, a road scraper 
which smooths and fills chuck holes as it 
goes is run over the road. It is my privi¬ 
lege to ride over a part of this good road fre¬ 
quently, and also my misfortune to ride al¬ 
most daily over about the worst road in the 
county. To know how to care for a road 
should he the only recommenuation for a road- 
master, and not political pull, as is too often 
true. 
Treatment of Posts. —The best treatment 
that I know of is to put good California red¬ 
wood posts in place of those which rot quick¬ 
ly. The next best treatment, which, however, 
when practicable, is the best, is to plant 
trees for posts. Walnut trees grow rapidly, 
make a grateful shade and are profitable. The 
English and French varieties sell well in 
market, and I know a man who cracks the 
hard shell Black walnuts for his chickens. 
Lost Boys. —I am glad to know how the 
Hope Farm man managed those lost hoys. It 
was surely the right way. Whipping would 
have been wrong. If whipping is ever right 
in cases where hoys run away from home, the 
punishment should fall on the parents or 
guardians, and not on the hoys! The man¬ 
agement of children is a problem that few if 
any parents have solved satisfactorily to 
themselves, or for the best good of the chil¬ 
dren. How many of us can look hack and 
feel that our every act toward our children 
has been for their best good? The Hope 
Farm Notes are worth the price of the paper 
and more. There is much more to life than 
merely farming. Our natures as well as the 
natures of our children need attention quite 
as much as our fields and the animals. When 
conditions are right our fields and orchards 
yield abundant harvests, and the animals are 
healthy and thrive. We try to make condi¬ 
tions right when we plow and harrow, prune 
and spray, and if necessary irrigate. Are we 
spending much time trying so to control our 
natures that the harvest there may also be 
abundant and of the finest quality? What is 
an angel? Only "a just man made perfect.” 
Santa Clara Co., Cal. ii. o. keesling. 
To Owners of Gasoline Engines, 
Automobiles, Launches, Etc. 
The Auto=Sparker « 
does away entirely with all starting and 
running battories, their annovance 
and oxoonso. No belt—no switch no 
batteries. Can bo attached to any en¬ 
gine now using battories. Fully guar¬ 
anteed; write for descriptive catalog. 
Motsinger Device Mfg. Co. 
58 Main Street, Pendleton, Ind. 
GASOLINE 
ENGINES 
for pumping or commercial pur¬ 
poses, from % to 28 horse power. 
Also Steam Rollers and Engines,Saw 
Mills, Feed Mills, Cider Presses and 
supplies. Machinery guaranteed. 
Catalogues free. 
HYDRAULIC PRESS MFG. CO., 
39 Cortlandt St.. New York City. 
GASOLINE ENGINES 
Three Horse Power, ®100 c 
Five Horse Power, s®150 
Saws wood: cuts feed. Does all 
kinds of farm work. Runs spray 
pump. Catalogue free. 
PALMER BROS., 
Cos Ccb, Conn. 
Want Power? 
Steam’s the dependable thing. Cheapest and made 
simple enough and sate 
enough for any user and 
any purpose by 
LEFFEL 
Steam Engines. 
Leffel stands always for 
highest efficiency—w e 1 1 
shown in its line of small 
powers adapted to farm 
uses. Quick steamers and 
equal to any duty. 
Muny styles in up¬ 
rights and horizon¬ 
tals. Before you buy 
inquire into Leffel 
efficiency. Write for 
large free catalog. 
The James 
Leffel & Co., 
Box 146 
SprInfjlield.O. 
Q| I A perfect sreet irame silo with gnar- 
OlkwO anteed workmanship and material. 
’0x20 silo 178.37. Special terms to Farmer’s Clubs 
k Oranges. The International Silo Co., Jefferson, O. 
See the exhibit of U. S. Separators at the St. Lonis Exposition, space 52, 
opposite working creamery. Agricultural Building. 
Protect Your Feet 
with rubber wear that is ALL RUBBER and that has lasting, wearing qualities. The 
only thing that wears in rubber wear is the rubber. There are 
no cheapening substitute* In the 
BUCKSKIN BRAND 
Rubber Boots and Shoes 
—Not Made by a Trust— 
They are all pure, new rubber. Note actual test and ask us for proof. 
Your guarantee ofdurability is the Buckskin trademark. Look for iton 
every pair. I f you ask for it, we ll send our book, “Rubberin Around,” 
showing exactly how Buckskin Brand rubber wear is made. Write to-day 
for special offer to introduce the Buckskin Brand in every locality. 
BANNER RUBBER C0„ 280 Bittner Street, ST. LOUIS, MO. 
it III tte 
Utml Tat 
WINCHESTER 
Rifle and Pistol Cartridges. 
The proof of the pudding is the eating ; the proof of 
the cartridge is its shooting. The great popularity 
attained by Winchester rifle and pistol cartridges 
during a period of over 30 years is the best proof of 
their shooting qualities. They always give satisfac¬ 
tion. Winchester .22 caliber cartridges loaded with 
Smokeless powder have the celebrated Winches¬ 
ter Greaseless Bullets, which make them cleaner to 
handle than any cartridges of this caliber made. 
ALL SUCCESSFUL SPORTSMEN USE THEM. 
Diamond Robbery. —A woman while in¬ 
specting purebred poultry on a Westbrook, 
Conn., poultry farm, claims to have acci¬ 
dentally dropped a valuable diamond from a 
ring on her finger, and before the diamond 
could be recovered a White Wyandotte pul¬ 
let, seeing the glittering bauble, picked it up 
and swallowed it. it has not been deemed 
necessary to notify Scotland Yard or the Pin¬ 
kertons of the loss, as the robbery was not 
the work of a professional, but decidedly an 
"inside job.” The proprietor of the farm 
has offered a liberal reward to bis customers 
for the recovery of the gem. a reader. 
A Never Failing Water Supply, 
with absolute safety, at small cost may be had by usiiig the 
Improved Rider Hot Air Pumping Engine and 
Improved Ericsson Hot Air Pumping Engine. 
Built by us for more than 30 years and sold in every country in the world. Exclu¬ 
sively intended for pumping water May be run by any ignorant boy or woman. 
So well built that their durability is yet to be determined, engines which were sold 
30 years ago being still in active service. 
Send stamp for “ C4 ' Catalogue to nearest office 
RIDER-ERICSSON ENGINE CO., 
35 Warren St., New York. 239 Franklin St., Boston 
40 Dearborn St., Chicago. 692 Craig St., Montreal, P. 
40 North 7th St., Philadelphia. 22 Pitt St., Sydney, N. S. W. 
Teniente-Bey 71a Havana. Cuba. 
