1897 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
825 
ONG 'THE* 
ARKCIMEN! 
WHAT I SEE AND HEAR. 
The first hothouse lambs are called for at Christmas, 
a very few supplying the demand, and the price being 
high, though not so high as in former years. The 
first lambs weigh 25 to 30 pounds, heavier weights 
being required later. The growing of these lambs to 
a state of perfection is a trade in itself, and the proper 
dressing and preparing for market is another nice 
operation. A choice lamb may be spoiled in the dress¬ 
ing. They are sent with the skins on. 
X X X 
The price of butter was remarkably uniform during 
the month of November, as it varied hardly one-half 
cent per pound during the month. This indicates a 
good, healthy state of the market, and that supply 
and demand are pretty evenly balanced. It is far 
better for both producer and consumer when this 
condition prevails. At present, prices are a trifle 
higher, and supplies are also growing larger. Still 
the price is not high for the time of year. 
X X t 
A good many opossums are in market these days, 
and there seems to be quite a demand for them dur¬ 
ing winter, especially from the colored population, 
who think them choice eating. Many of the whites, 
also, are not averse to making a dinner off the juicy 
carcass. They are generally sent to market with their 
furs on just as they are killed, but they are truly dead 
so that they will not rouse up and scamper off. 
X X X 
There is always great loss in shipping bunches of 
bananas, by the outer ones becoming bruised, after 
which they spoil quickly. One wholesale dealer is 
gaining quite an advantage over his competitors by 
cutting the bunches into hands, packing these care¬ 
fully in barrels, and selling them by the barrel. An¬ 
other advantage is that they are less liable to injury 
from frost when so packed. It pays to study the 
interests as well as the preferences, of customers. 
xxx- 
What do “ fresh”, “ strictly fresh”, “fresh-laid”, 
and similar terms really mean ? This morning, I saw 
a sign over a box of eggs in market offering 16 strictly 
fresh eggs for 25 cents. They are worth more than 
that per dozen by the crate, and it isn’t likely that 
these dealers are doing business for their health. 
The fact is that there are immense quantities of 
refrigerator eggs in the country, and many of these 
are being worked off by unscrupulous dealers as 
fresh-laid. 
X X X 
Poultry for the Christmas market must arrive here 
early in the week to supply the regular trade. Choice 
ducks and geese are most in demand, though there is, 
also, a good call for prime turkeys. Fowls and 
chickens are not so much in demand, though they are 
always salable. Only well-fattened, neatly-dressed 
poultry should ever be sent to this market, and poor 
stock should not be mixed with good in the attempt 
to work off the poor. There is not much demand for 
broilers and capons until after the holidays, and the 
demand is not very heavy until later in the season. 
X t X 
There seems to be considerable interest in the hay 
market, and some write us stating that they have 
“ prime Timothy hay.” The chances are that such 
people are deceiving themselves. “ Prime ” is mis¬ 
leading ; such hay must be absolutely pure Timothy 
without a spire of anything else, perfect in color. 
How many farmers could get such a bale from their 
mows without hand picking ? About the highest 
grade in market is No. 1, and this is, usually, pretty 
good hay. Just now, supplies are liberal, and the 
market is easy. _ f. h. y. 
GUERNSEY BREEDERS IN ANNUAL MEETING. 
The American Guernsey Cattle Club held its annual 
meeting in this city December 8. The meeting was 
not so largely attended as last year, when it was held 
in Philadelphia, there being 27 members present last 
year and 18 this. It was a most harmonious meeting 
throughout. Secretary-Treasurer Caldwell’s report 
showed the club to be in a flourishing condition, with 
a substantial balance in bank. Much of the business 
of the club is done by the executive committee, and 
this leaves the meetings free for the discussion of 
subjects of general interest to breeders of Guernsey 
cattle. 
The subject that received the most discussion, and 
which is one of great interest to the lovers of this 
breed, was the question of home tests. It seems that 
breeders of Guernseys have done less work in the 
direction of testing their cattle for the purpose of 
establishing records than have those of other breeds. 
All of those present at this meeting seemed to feel 
the importance of this subject, but the great difficulty 
seemed to be to devise means for making these tests 
satisfactorily and honestly, and at the same time, in 
such a way that the public at large shall receive them 
as accurate. The general opinion seemed to be that 
they should be made under experiment-station super¬ 
vision, each breeder being subject to visitation and 
inspection, and his milk to testing at any time, by a 
representative of the experiment station in his own 
State. Many of the farmers seemed to feel that there 
would be a lack of confidence in any records that 
might b8 established, unless the inspection were 
rendered somewhat official by this means. It was 
suggested by some that an entrance fee should be 
charged, both for herds and for single cows that were 
to be entered in competition in any of these record 
tests, and to encourage breeders thus to enter, pre¬ 
miums should be awarded to the cows making the 
best records. The whole matter of home testing was 
finally referred to the executive committee with power 
to make any arrangement as to details for carrying 
out these tests that they might see fit. 
The scale of points as at present used in judging 
Guernsey cattle, was discussed somewhat. A number 
of members expressed themselves to the effect that 
the scale of points is open to criticism in many ways, 
and that there is a chance for considerable improve¬ 
ment in several of its provisions. Some reference 
was made to the “Guernsey type” of cattle, but there 
was by no means a unanimity of opinion as to just 
what this term means The type seems to be a vary¬ 
ing one with different breeders, and each breeder has 
his own ideas of just what a perfect Guernsey should 
be. The question of black noses was discussed, and 
while it was not thought that this color should serve 
to bar out animals otherwise perfect, still preference 
is expressed for those not having such discoloration. 
Some breeders thought, too, that too many points 
were given in the scale of points for some of the less 
important parts of the cow. The general opinion, 
however, of what a Guernsey cow should be, is that 
she should be strongly built, large, considerably 
heavier than the Jersey. Reference was made to the 
fact that Jersey breeders are poor judges of Guernsey 
cattle, for they almost invariably give the preference 
to Guernseys of less robust build, and having more 
distinctively the Jersey type. 
There have been a number of importations of 
Guernsey cattle during the past year, and the num¬ 
ber of registries and transfers was somewhat larger 
than during the preceding year. A number of new 
members have been added to the club, which is in¬ 
creasing from year to year, and the interest seems to 
continue to grow among those who are breeding 
Guernseys. The old officers were reelected for an¬ 
other year, and steps have been taken to increase the 
interest of the public in the breed. One of the most 
effective of these is the publication and distribution of 
a pamphlet entitled The Guernsey Grade Cow, which 
is intended for distribution among a class of people 
who wish to improve their cattle, yet do not feel that 
they can afford to keep a purebred herd. 
POINTS IN THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE. 
The first regular session of the 55th Congress opened 
on Monday at noon. The most important event con¬ 
nected therewith was the reception of the President’s 
annual message. The recommendations it contains 
are supposed to have an important bearing upon 
coming legislation. His suggestions are supposed to 
receive the respectful consideration of the legislators. 
Hence his message is always looked for with consider¬ 
able interest, as foreshadowing the future movements 
of Congress. 
Some of the recommendations of President McKinley 
will have little effect or value in an agricultural 
light, unless indirectly. Some are of direct interest. 
We all want good money. The President says that 
currency revision is a necessity. He says that 
the evil of the present system is found in the great 
cost to the Government of maintaining the parity of 
our different forms of money, that is, keeping all of 
them at par with gold. No one but the Government 
is obliged to redeem in gold. The only means by 
which the Government can with certainty get gold, is 
by borrowing. Thus it has to issue bonds. He recom¬ 
mends that, as soon as the receipts of the Government 
are quite sufficient to pay all the expenses of the 
Government, when any of the United States notes are 
presented for redemption in gold, and are redeemed 
in gold, such notes shall be kept and set apart and 
paid out only in exchange for gold. The Secretary 
of the Treasury has outlined a plan in detail for the 
purpose of removing the threatened recurrence of a 
depleted gold reserve, and to this plan, the President 
invites careful consideration. He recommends that 
authority be given for the establishment of national 
banks with a minimum capital of $25,000, which would 
enable the smaller villages and agricultural regions 
of the country to be supplied with currency to meet 
their needs. 
A great deal of space is devoted to the considera¬ 
tion of the Cuban problem. Reciprocity negotiations 
are now proceeding with several governments, both 
European and American. The volume of our com¬ 
mercial fexchanges may be greatly enlarged to the 
advantage of both contracting parties. Our foreign 
commerce should be extended, and to this end, our 
merchant marine should be improved and enlarged. 
We should do our full share of the carrying trade of 
the world. We do not do it now. 
He devotes some space to the conditions existing in 
the Indian Territory, and to showing that the con¬ 
ditions under which the five civilized tribes were 
established in the Indian Territory under treaty pro¬ 
visions with the United States, with the right of self 
government, and the exclusion of all white persons 
from within their borders, have undergone so com¬ 
plete a change as to render the continuance of the 
system thus inaugurated practically impossible. The 
whites who have settled there, and have built up 
towns, and improved the property, largely outnumber 
the Indians, yet are without title to their land, and 
have no school accommodations, or other privileges 
which render them safe in their property and per¬ 
sonal rights. He sees the solution of the problem in 
making these Indians American citizens. 
The President recites the facts connected with the 
sale of the Pacific Railway, and existing conditions 
about the Kansas Pacific, the ssvle of which has been 
postponed to December 16. He proposes that the 
Government become a bidder for the latter road in 
case there is no other bid that shall equal the road’s 
indebtedness to the Government, which now seems 
probable. He recommends immediate legislation 
touching this matter. 
In August, 1897, the Nebraska railroads placed in 
effect a live-stock tariff by which rates were charged 
by weight upon all cattle shipped. This was very 
unpopular with the shippers, and an appeal was 
made to the State Board of Transportation. The 
Board has decided in favor of the shippers, but the 
railroads have not decided to comply with this ruling. 
They are accustomed to ignore the orders of the 
Board, and there is no way to enforce its mandates. 
In previous instances, the railroads have taken such 
rulings to the higher courts, where they are either 
tied up indefinitely, or declared void. The railroads 
object to the flat rate of so much per car of cattle, on 
the ground that some shippers insist upon over¬ 
crowding the cars, causing the death of some of the 
cattle, the company being sued for the value of the 
cattle thus killed. One case was cited where a shipper 
sent 61 steers to an eastern point in a car built to 
accommodate 35. Five were killed in transit, and the 
company was forced to pay the damages. The shippers 
insist that the new rate was equivalent to an increase 
of 10 per cent in live stock rates, but this is denied by 
the railroads. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
The old way of cutting ice with a crosscut saw is sure but 
rather slow, and makes hard work of it. The ice plow is now in 
general favor. J. S. Woodhouse, 191 Water Street, New York, 
makes one that cuts ice fast. He will send particulars on ap¬ 
plication. 
Once more, we want to say, put no trust in artists and news 
bureaus which promise big pay for work at home. They want to 
sell you something first. Ask them to send you supplies to be 
paid for out of your earnings, and see their answer. It is doubt¬ 
ful whether you get an answer. 
You do not need to store the wagon away any more when the 
snow flies. You can take off the wheels, slip a pair of steel run¬ 
ners on in their place, and start off for a sleigh ride with every¬ 
thing about the vehicle just as before except the wheels. All you 
need are the runners. Duane H. Nash, Millington, N. J., makes 
them. 
Comparatively little is known by the outside world of the 
enormous care and patience employed in testing every article 
purchased by the various departments of the Government. Every 
manufactured article, no matter how insignificant, is subjected 
to most rigid tests and comparisons, and the best only is consid 
ered good enough. For this reason, The MasoD & Hamlin Co. 
feel justly proud that, since 1890, they alone have been deemed 
worthy of furnishing the pianos and organs required by the 
Government for the equipment of its Indian schools and the 
ships of the new navy. 
The one thing lacking on many farms is a convenient and 
abundant supply of water. The supply should, also, be con¬ 
tinuous. It does not do to have a full supply part of the time. If 
farmers could live in a city or town for a while where the water 
is supplied from a common source by the municipality, they 
would hardly be willing to put up with the meager supply and 
usually inconvenient source on many farms. When the supply 
can not be secured from perpetual springs or brooks, the next 
best thing is a well. But the well should be deep enough to tap 
an under-current that will not fail in the most severe drought. 
The beet way to get at this underground stream is by means of 
the bored well. These may be drilled to any depth and to almost 
any desired size in bore and diameter. The Star Drilling Machine 
Co., Akron, O., make a drilling outfit for this purpose. They will 
be glad to send particulars if you arc interested. 
