3l2 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 8 
The Rural New=Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
Elbert S. Carman. Editor-in-Chief. 
Herbert W. Colling wood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
PRICE, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
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of 10 or more lines, and 1,000-line orders, 25 cents per line. 
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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, MAY 8 , 1897. 
THE BEST SELLERS. 
The best selling books for the past week were : 
Van Norman’s Butter Chart 
Grasses and Clovers, Dreer 
The butter chart is hardly a book, but it will enable 
you to estimate the amount of butter in any sample 
of milk when the per cent of fat is given. It is just 
what a dairyman needs in dealing with a creamery. 
It costs only 25 cents. That is, also, the price of 
Grasses and Clovers. We also furnish any book you 
may wish to buy. 
O 
One grocer in a New Jersey town is selling pound 
packages of butter made in Aurora. Ill. The butter 
is excellent in quality, put up in neat packages, and 
is remarkably uniform in flavor and color. Within 
10 miles of town, are hundreds of acres of idle land, 
and farmers have but little winter work to do. Sweet 
corn is a profitable crop in this county, and some of 
the fodder from last year’s crop is still out in the field. 
Suppose that it had been cut into a silo after the ears 
were snapped off ! Suppose that Western bran had 
been bought in car-load lots to feed with it to good 
dairy cows ! Suppose that one of the boys or girls 
had taken the short course at an agricultural college 
and learned how to make first-class butter 1 We leave 
you to figure out the result! 
It is now pretty well known that the fumes of 
bisulphide of carbon are poisonous to all animal life. 
This substance is very successfully used for killing 
insects in stored grain or any animal that can be con¬ 
fined amid the fumes. Prof. J. B. Smith, in Bulletin 
121 of the New Jersey Station, tells us that melon 
growers are using the bisulphide to destroy the melon 
louse. By keeping close watch of the field, they are 
able to detect the hills on which the lice begin their 
work. A light, tight cover of cloth or paper is put 
over the hill, and under it is placed in a clam shell or 
small dish a teaspoonful or more of the bisulphide. 
In about an hour, this will kill every louse under the 
cover. By taking the infested hills in time, the lice 
may be kept out of the field. It is known, too, that 
the bisulphide may be injected into the soil to kill 
the cabbage-root maggot. It is a useful insecticide, 
but should be handled as carefully as gunpowder. 
Q 
The English House of Commons recently passed 
the following resolution : 
In the opinion of this House, the dependence of the United 
Kingdom on foreign imports for the necessaries of life, and the 
consequences that might arise therefrom in the event of war, de¬ 
mand the serious attention of Her Majesty’s government. 
As a rule, a “ resolution ” does not mean much of 
anything, but the discussion which followed this one 
brought out some interesting facts about John Bull’s 
bakeshop. Two-thirds of the English people are 
fed on imported breadstuffs. The reserve supply of 
grain rarely exceeds three months’ needs, and there 
is often only enough grain ahead for one month’s 
bread. In fact, the chief grain supply for England 
at any given time is on the water. It was pointed out 
that, if Russia and America together were to pro¬ 
hibit exports of grain, there would be a famine in 
England within six months. If France and Russia 
were to declare war against England, the price of 
English wheat would soon be doubled. Various plans 
were suggested for providing an ample supply of 
grain. One was to build great national granaries 
and fill them at once, buying the world’s wheat until 
several years’ supply could be stored. The protec¬ 
tionists argued for a high tariff on wheat to stimu¬ 
late the English farmer to produce more grain at 
home. Others advocated spending more money for 
the navy so that, in any event, the foreign grain 
trade could be protected. The fact is that all the 
European rulers seem to realize that they are sitting 
on a collection of gunpowder barrels. They are just 
now enjoying (?) a dishonorable peace, yet it is only 
a question of time before they will grapple in a mighty 
struggle. When the struggle comes, America’s trade 
opportunity will come with it. Men who fight can¬ 
not, at the same time, feed and clothe their families. 
Europe must turn to America for food and clothing. 
It would be fortunate if any increase in prices could 
be used in paying off our vast foreign debt, so that 
our country could stand on its own feet. 
O 
Who would box a child-on the ear, knowing how 
the ear is made up and the possible consequences of 
such a blow ? The ears, the eyes and other organs 
of the body are often injured through ignorance. 
We do not know the effect of a blow, because we do 
not understand what there may be inside—under the 
skin. In much the same way, we think many good 
horses have been injured by blacksmiths who do not 
know what there is inside the hoof. We will venture 
to say that the majority of horseshoers you meet 
cannot tell you how the bones of the horse’s foot are 
put together. It is pretty dangerous business for a 
man to pound on a nail that is sticking into a horse’s 
foot without knowing what it may hit. There are, 
also, too many horseshoers who burn the shoe into 
the hoof to make it fit. That is a bad practice and 
ought to be stopped. The shoes should be cold-fitted 
—the hoof should be trimmed, not burned. Horses 
may be cheap, but that is no reason why their hoofs 
should be injured by bad shoeing. 
© 
Students of the “Balanced Ration” problem might 
find much food for thought in the analyses of various 
articles of human food used in a “ dietary study” at 
the Maine State College. Here are a few familiar 
articles : 
Muscle-makers. 
Fat-formers. 
Pure Fat. 
Eggs. 
. . . . 
10.5 
Rolled oats. 
.1(5 
67.8 
6.7 
White bread ... 
.12.1 
75.8 
1. 
Gingerbread... 
. 5.4 
66.1 
9.5 
Sponge cake... 
“Cookies”. 
. 6 3 
65.9 
10.7 
75.4 
9.7 
Dougnnuts. 
. 0.8 
55 2 
21.6 
Apple pie. 
. 3.2 
42.8 
9.8 
Mince pie. 
. 5.8 
31.8 
12.3 
Squash pie. 
. 4 4 
21.7 
8 4 
Bak-d beans... 
23.2 
6.8 
Pickles. 
. 6 
3.4 
.3 
Boiled potatoes 
. 2.8 
25.3 
.2 
Sausage . 
.14.7 
,,,, 
48.5 
Milk. 
5.2 
3.5 
Cheese. 
.28.3 
1.8 
35.5 
As an average of four trials, it was found that the 
daily food of one man contained 118% grams of 
muscle-makers, 158% grams of pure fat and 515% 
grams of fat-formers. One ounce is 31 grams, so you 
will see that the human who undertook to live largely 
on such food as pie, pickles, doughnuts, cake and 
potatoes would need to eat an immense weight of 
food. It would be like feeding a cow on corn stalks 
or ensilage or Timothy hay alone. Most persons will 
be surprised to learn that both eggs and rolled oats 
are stronger food than baked beans. If we were to 
examine these foods still further, we should find that 
cake, pie and similar food is very low in ash elements. 
Oat meal contains more ash or bone-forming material 
than any other ordinary vegetable food and is, there¬ 
fore, of special value for young children whose teeth 
and bones are forming. It is a mistake to use your 
energies in figuring out a “ balanced ration” for the 
barn stock while the house stock, young and old, are 
far off their feeding balance. 
O 
For the past two years, we have been obliged 
to call for reports of the behavior of Crimson clover. 
There is no need of it this year, for reports of 
success are coming from all quarters. Three years 
ago, we made the statement that, where this crop 
could be successfully grown, fruit growers and 
dairymen would find it unnecessary to buy nitro¬ 
gen in the form of fertilizers. This seemed like an 
extravagant statement, yet dozens of farmers have 
already reached just that point. The clover supplies 
all the nitrogen required for their fruits or com, and 
potash and phosphoric acid feed the clover. The in¬ 
troduction of this plant has proved a great boon to 
enterprising farmers. In some sections, farmers still 
report poor success with the Crimson. In most cases, 
these failures are due to three principal causes: Fail¬ 
ure to supply potash, a sour soil which may be cured 
by the use of lime, and a lack of moisture in the soil 
at the time of sowing. In some cases, failure resulted 
from the first seeding, while subsequent sowings on 
the same field gradually improved from year to year. 
This is explained by the fact that the successive seed- 
ings brought in the bacteria which are necessary to 
the crop. We do not regard the killing of the crop in 
March as sufficient reason for condemning it. If the 
seed is sown early enough to make a good growth 
before December, the crop will pay a good profit, even 
though every plant be thrown out in March. 
© 
On page 185 of The R. N.-Y., Dr. Kilborne pre¬ 
scribed a powder for a mare troubled with hard 
breathing. This powder was to be made as follows : 
“Sulphate of copper and powdered nux vomica, each 
three ounces, arsenic 60 grains ; mix, make into 30 
powders—give one powder in feed night and morn¬ 
ing.” A reader in New York State wanted to try 
this powder, but was a little afraid of it. He wrote : 
Is this a safe dose for a horse ? Sulphate of copper in five- 
grain doses is an emetic for an adult, and according to this pre¬ 
scription, there would be about 44 grains of the sulphate of 
copper in each powder. 
That was a fair question, and the man was right in 
coming for further information. Dr. Kilborne’s com¬ 
ment is as follows: 
The full dose of the sulphate of copper for the horEe is one to 
two drams, or more than double the quantity given in the above 
prescription. While the sulphate of copper is an active emetic 
in the vomiting animals—the dog, pig and in man—it does not 
cause emesis in the horse, which is not a vomiting animal. The 
horse is insusceptible to the action of all emetics. 
This incident well illustrates what accurate informa¬ 
tion represents. It is easy to give an off-hand answer 
to a question in order to get rid of it in the easiest 
manner. That, however, does not suit The R. N.-Y. 
Our ambition is to establish and maintain a reputa¬ 
tion for accuracy of statement, and that is why we 
have gathered a staff of experts far superior, we 
think, to that of any other agricultural paper. 
© 
BREVITIES. 
When Rural readers in their might rise up with varied verse, 
And with poetic tuning forks, their rights and wrongs rehearse 
The Rural poet is content to take a far-back seat; 
Let fresher lungs blow up the fires of true poetic heat. 
Sir Walter Raleigh lived his life these many years ago. 
The woik he did is whispered yet, by all the winds that blow; 
To-day, his namesake lives again, in fair potato skin. 
His fame—but then, enough of this—hark how our poets sing: 
Two months ago, we sent a stamp for postage on a “tater ”; 
All snugly packed and safe from harm, it came a little later. 
We placed it in a window among the plants and flowers; 
And the hopes we built upon it rose up like castle towers. 
Alas! those towers have fallen, and we are sad to-day; 
A careless hand among the flowers that tuber threw away. 
And now we’d like another, if you’ve any more to spare, 
And we’ll try to give Sir Walter the vt ry best of care; 
And we’ll do our level best to advance the reputation 
Of the best of all the papers in this great Yankee nation. 
E. J. M. K. 
Please halter another 
Sir Walter’s brother, 
And send him on a tramp 
For this two-cent stamp.— Wisconsin. 
On Sir Walter, put a wrapper; 
Here’s your two-cent stamp. 
We’ll give the treatment prapper, 
When we get him into camp.— Pennsylvania. 
No fun in fighting fungi. 
How is your strawberry barrel ? 
One can be crude without being rude. 
Lay down the law—and don’t take it up again. 
A weak will is often the bacterium that starts a bill. 
A Jack-of-all-trades should be master of, at least, one. 
How does milk become fowl 7 Skim it and feed it to the hens. 
Yes, a scrub is a keepsake—her keep makes the pocketbook 
ache. 
Felonious assault—putting salt around peach trees. You steal 
their life ! 
How many farmers have a definite plan for the season’s work 1 
All hands up ! 
Sorrow ! It embitters one man and sweetens another ! Why 
the difference ? 
Grace before meat and growling afterwards, make an un 
balanced ration. 
You take one u out of fowl and you will have foul. You gener¬ 
ally illwse this u. 
Don’t bother about the “ mistakes of Moses” until you correct 
a few of your own mistakes. 
A Maryland man cracked his whip, hit his boy in the eye, and 
cut the eye out! Better go whipless. 
What is a “scrub,” anyway? See page 318. We call it an 
animal that doesn’t pay for its board and care ! 
Mr. Chapman, page 307, says that he wants a pinch of trotting 
blood in the work team. Why not have [some spirit about farm, 
work ? 
If you would kill fungi, use sulphate of copper; it puts them 
right out of the strife, and self hate for actions you know are im¬ 
proper, will kill off the fungi of life. 
Jack Frost was too much for the Delaware peach crop. The 
peach army was forced to retreat with a loss of four-fifths of its 
soldiers' Japan plums were, also, defeated. 
We got into the chicken yard with horse and cultivator with 
the big shovels on, and tore the whole ground up. The hens bal¬ 
anced their ration with cheap meat in short order. Try it! 
Hand-picking of the mature insects and destruction of the egg 
clusters seem a tedious way of combating the squash stink-bug; 
but it is the surest method, says Mr. Slingerland, on page 308. 
There is no r in May—therefore, oysters are out of date. The 
Oyster-shell Bark-louse doesn’t think so. Kill the young insects 
before they get under the scale. Kerosene emulsion will do it. 
