THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
10(»1 
147 
hope farm notes. 
WiMTKB Oats.—O ne of our readers in 
Montana writes thus: 
•T see tliat in Hope Farm Notes you 
sneak" of Winter oats. Are the oats like 
Winter wheat, a crop that you sow in the 
Fall for the next year, or is it only for 
pasture? If it is for crop I wish you w'ould 
tell me where I can get sample of it. I 
would like to try some, as Fall sowing of 
wheat and rye do much better here than 
the Spring sort. I am a New York farm 
boy myself, and know that if it will grow 
in York State it will grow here.” e. e. s. 
Wolf Creek, Mont. 
These Winter oats are a southern variety 
or '“breed.” I first saw them growing in 
Delaware. The farmers in that State sow 
these oats in September. They live through 
the Winter like rye or wheat, and make a 
large crop the next season—somewhat 
earlier than the Spring oats. I observed 
that they stool out more than Spring oats, 
and make a thicker mat during the Fall 
than wheat or rye. Several years ago We 
tried them in a very small way, and part 
actually lived through the Winter. Last 
Fall 1 sowed six bushels alone, mixed with 
rye, and also with Crimson clover. They 
sprouted before the rye and made a fair 
growth, giving good Fall pasture. They 
are still alive, but I do not much expect 
that they will live through March, which 
is our most trying month. I do not advise 
their use except in a small way at first. 
Giving Advice.— Right here let me say 
again that I do not pretend to be a model 
farmer, and I do not want readers to go 
and do just as we do at Hope Farm. I 
try to tell of certain things just as they 
are—the many failures as well as the few 
successes. There ought to be a clear dis¬ 
tinction between what is intended as a hint 
and what is meant for thoughtful advice. 
I say this because some good people seem 
to think that we expect all who read to 
pattern after our doings and sayings. No! 
No! That is a mistake. In many cases it 
would be well for us to go to learn from 
others. Here, for example, is a man who 
has less use for "a woman’s horse” than 1 
liave for a pie: 
“The Hope Farm man makes to my mind 
a curious mixture of farm economics and 
sentiment. It would appear that he pro¬ 
posed to winter four horses and a pony 
and two cows and a calf upon eight tons 
of hay and 15 tons of cornstalks. He 
ligures an increase of $50 in wintering the 
liorse Frank. How about old Major and 
pony Peter? He is undoubtedly a good 
fellow for providing a woman’s horse and 
a pony for the children. But it seems to 
me that in the matter of taking a stock 
account he might better leave out old 
Major and pony Peter and put in a couiile 
of heifers If the above amount of hay and 
fodder is the total product of his farm. I 
have just purchased a 40-acre farm where 
‘Mamma’ had an old horse, ‘the children’ 
had a pony, ‘Papa’ had a trotter and the 
farm had a working team. It is perhaps 
unnecessary to state that ‘Papa’ failed. 
1 run the same place to-day with but one 
team, hiring an extra horse at 50 cents per 
day when necessary, as in haying.” 
New York. e. t. e. l. 
As a matter of fact both Major and Peter 
would sell for more in May than the value 
I set for them in January. I might doctor 
old Major up and possibly sell him to 
some peddler or foreigner for $35, but I 
wouldn’t do it if you gave me a $50 bill 
on top of the price. As for Peter, he is grow¬ 
ing in value all the time. Both he and old 
Major more than pay for their keep during 
the year. I suppose we might send the 
little Graft back to the asylum and raise 
a pig on the food he eats, or feed a cow 
with the price of his clothing. My senti¬ 
ments regarding such matters are pretty 
well known. A good share of the crime, 
selfishne.ss and cold-hearted deviltry In this 
world may be traced back to the fact that 
in loo many homes, both in town and 
country, love, sentiment, justice and sym¬ 
pathy for the unfortunate take a back 
seat for the worship of a dollar! Major 
and Peter are not drones, but I will let 
the women folks speak up for them. It is 
liossible that our friend is right in saying 
that when taking a stock account' we 
should leave out all but the earners. 
Feeding the Idle. —If I could have every 
horse on the farm, except big Frank, turn 
woodchuck December 1 and sleep until 
ATiril ], turning up then ready for work, I 
could sell the hay to good advantage. It 
would pay us better to sell it than to feed 
it out. Horses are not woodchucks, how¬ 
ever—look at the empty hay mow and be 
sure of that! Some farmers sell off their 
horses to save feeding them in idle times, 
and trust to trading and dickering to keep 
the team filled. I do not believe in doing 
business that way, for I must confess that 
I am not much on a horse trade. 1 tliink 
we do better with horses that know us, so 
would not like to sell Dan and Frank even 
for a little more than similar horses bring 
in the market. The fact is that the year 
and life of all of us. men, women and four- 
footers, is divided into iirofitable and un¬ 
profitable periods. There are times when 
you must feed a horse, a cow or a hired 
man at a loss in order to have them ready 
at a time when their work really pays. 
Both of these periods must be considered, 
for unless the man or animal is well 
wound up with food and good care during 
his slack time you cannot rush him when 
action means money. I think some 
farmers fall partly because they believe 
that animals, fields or crops can stand 
neglect during the seasons when they are 
not actually earning. As well expect a 
watch to run without winding it up. Some¬ 
times a man is paid for making a speech. 
He doesn’t earn that money in the half 
hour or so actually spent in talking, but 
in the days, weeks and months spent in 
study and preparation, which to many 
seemed lazy time. 
Oats and Smut.— Here is a question 
which others are asking: 
“Did the Hope Farm man succeed last 
year in preventing smut in oats? If so, 
will he give directions for treating seed 
before sowing? We cannot use the hot 
water treatment here in Nebraska; too 
much seed to be treated and not much 
b^n space to dry seed afterwards.” 
Bennet, Neb. j. j. r. 
Yes, we had practically no smut in the 
oats. I used formalin or formaldehyde. 
This Is a liquid—poisonous. We spread the 
oats out on the floor about six inches deep. 
Half a pint of the formaldehyde was 
JJfixed with 60 quarts of water—well stirred. 
Ihls was sprinkled over the oats—we used 
a watering pot and made the oats wet. 
Then they were shoveled into a pile and 
covered for an hour and a half with sacks 
and blankets. This was to let the gas 
work all through the pile. Then they 
were spread out again and dried. 'Tlie oats 
dry quite rapidly in a wind. 'I’liis did the 
business for us. There may be other and 
better ways. 
Eggs and Hens.— Our hens laid 166 eggs 
during the first 15 days in February. This 
is not much of a record, but 10 of tliese 
days were cold and stormy. The hens were 
crowded into a very small house without 
pi’oper exercise. Those eggs could all have 
been sold at three cents each. As closely 
us we can figure the cost of the feed for 
the 15 days was $1.56. That looks like a 
profit, but the idle months of December 
and January must be taken out also. . . , 
The showing is good enough to satisfy me 
that it would pay us to have more hens. 
A year hence I would like 250 pullets. Of 
course 1 know that means setting 1,000 
eggs or more. 1 shall buy some White 
Leghorn and White Wyandotte eggs. 
About 25 of our own hens are good ones. 
The new Wyandotte rooster, Dick, will be 
lui'iied with them, and the eggs kept for 
setting. . . . For the past six months 
our hens have run in the Bummer garden. 
This is inclosed in high wire netting. 1 
now purpose to build a fence inclosing a 
large space by the side of this garden. 
After April 1 the garden will be plowed 
and planted, and the hens turned into the 
other space. In July or August, when 
most of the garden crops except Lima 
beaus and sweet corn have been picked, 
the hens will be turned back and the other 
yard will be seeded to rye and Crimson 
clover. By that time the hens will have 
fixed the garden. We can turn them into 
the otlier yard and seed the garden in 
Winter oats, rape and clover. 
Clean Doings. —Lincoln’s Birthday was 
a genuine labor day at Hope Farm. 
Lincoln made a mistake in not being born 
on the Fourth of July. There are too 
many holidays now crowded into the cold 
ana disagreeable season. Outside we 
fitted up the ice house, while indoors the 
women got on the right side of a big 
wash. i came into the kitchen for a 
moment and found a busy scene. “Here, 
we need a big stout man to turn this ma¬ 
chine!” Needless to say this remark came 
from the Madame, who sat on a chair in 
the middle of the kitchen turning the 
crank of the washer. The Cutting was 
washing handkerchiefs. Aunt Jennie scrub¬ 
bing stockings. Aunt Emma rinsing while 
Chaddie put on the finishing touch at a 
tub. Almost before I knew it I was turn¬ 
ing the crank, while the Madame had 
called her little school In the sitting room. 
The machine gets out about 85 per cent of 
the dirt. Some people might call it a full 
lUO per cent, but other folks rub out the 
remaining 15 by hand. That wash crowded 
every clothesline on the place. Aunt 
Jennie counted 179 pieces all told. No, i 
am not going to figure how many rubs and 
wrings were required to settle it. As these 
garments flapped in the morning sun they 
signaled to the world that Hope Farm 
was for the time at least emancipated 
from dirt! It was a good celebration for 
Lincoln’s Birthday. 
Odd Notes. —We turned an old chicken 
house into a place for ice. 1 won’t call 
it the ice house until 1 see how it keeps. 
. . . I have a stock of crude petroleum, 
and during the latter part of March I 
expect to spray all our pear trees. It must 
be done on a clear, bright day. I do not 
iliink we have San Jos6 scale, but I am 
going to make sure of it. . . . The days 
uegin to lengthen quite suddenly at this 
season, and farmers begin to realize that 
Spring work will soon be driving them. 
\Ve have some painting to do, a hoghouse 
lo build, pruning and cleaning before the 
time comes for hauling out manure. In 
spite of the best of planning I have never 
been able to have our Winter work all 
cleared up before Spring work opened. 
'I'liis year I mean to come close to it. 
... A year ago the farm was in poor 
.sliape. We had Fall-plowed a number of 
acres, but the sod was tough and hard— 
not promising for good crops. This year 
I lie farm is in much better shape. The 
grass seeding looks well, and the grain is 
lair. The cornfield, which is to go into 
liotatoes is in good shape for Spring plow¬ 
ing. Take It all through, our prospects for 
a good season are far ahead of a year ago. 
But they ought to be. Wouldn’t It be a 
pretty slim farmer who does not build up 
Ids soil and his prospects each year? Lots 
i»r you will shake your heads at that 
siatement; but honestly, what about it? 
H. w. c. 
Elgin Watches 
possess every desirable modern 
improvement — are acknowl¬ 
edged to be 
The World’s Standard 
in accurate time-telling and en¬ 
durance. Jewelers everywhere 
sell and warrant the 
Genuine Ruby Jeweled Elgin 
An Elgin Watch always 
has the word “Elgin” en¬ 
graved on the works— 
fully guaranteed. 
Booklet Free. 
ELGIN NATIONAL WATCH CO. 
ELGIN, ILL. 
’THE COMET $2 to: 
Dooble-AcUnil—Spraya from backet or barrel 50 
feet. New •cientlflc principle. My free catalogue 
will make plain to you that I have the sprayer you 
want. Write toHtay. !!• B. Rt'SLKRt Johnstown,O. 
Ofttalos Free. 
SPECIAL PRICES n**. 
Trial. Gu8rantee4. IXmDio 
and Combination Beam, 
OSGOOD im^tralBC 
Write now. BINGHAMTON.N.Y. 
Buy a Good 
Spray 
Pump 
—d o n ’ t experiment- 
costs money. We have done 
the experimenting—used the 
common spray pumps in our 
own orchards, noted their 
defects — then invented the 
ECLIPSE. You get the bene¬ 
fit of our experience free- 
Send at once for catalogue. 
MORRILL & MORLEY, Benton Harbor, Mich. 
Why Bother with Making Kero* 
sene Emulsion? 
Readers of this paper will do well to Investigate 
the merits of the Dewey Sprayer. Works like a charm 
with kerosene or crude oil and water; also for Paris 
Green. After a trial you will wonder how you ever 
did without one. Delivered, charges paid on receipt 
of 12 by LKQGETT & BROTHER, HOl Pearl Street. 
New York. Write for Circular. 
lOther People’s Profits 
I f yf f f’f rr f ry f 
hare Increased 25 to 50 per cent, when the/ began to spray thN right ioay^ 
with the right sprayer, the PEPPLER AND tllM« SIX-ROW SPRAYERS. 
They will do as muoh for you. Read now they spray SO acres a day, 
a. how they save ^ the poison, increase crops one-half, pay for them- 
aeWea in one season. Ostalogne contains spray calendar, formnlas, etc. Sent frea. 
1 also mannfactnre the improved Riggs Plow and Riggs Fnrrowers. 
THOMAS PEPPLER, Box 60, HICHT8TOWN, N.J. 
■ ■•ew’vs.ssssa •"•we*. s«s<*ww iii.svsst 
(PATXimD) 
Goulds "KerowatafSprayer 
For Emulsifying and Spraying Kerosene 
and Water. 
Endorsed by the leading Horticulturists and State Experimental 
Stations. A kerosene sprayer which accurately proportions the 
mixture for any desired strength. Built in three sizes, for tank, 
barrel or knapsack use. There is a great demand for them. Ask 
your dealer or write direct to us. 
“How to Spray, When to Spray, What Pumps to Use,” a valu¬ 
able Booklet, free for the asking. 
The Goulds Mfg. Co., 
SENECA FALLS, N. Y. 
Warerooms: 16 Murray St., New York. 
LEAN’SARROWS B LAND ROLLERS 
Lenn harrows make fat harvests. They do more work and do it 
more efficiently than any other harrow. They tear up the ground, 
smooth it for sowing, harrow in the seed, kill the weeds after the 
crop comes np. 'I'he teeth are adjusted to salt any condition 
the eoil. By a touch of a lever they are instantly cleared 
trash without stopping the team. The, 
most snbstantial and finest finished farm implements' SImI 
made to-day. Made entirely of steel, light and dnr- La.e 
able. Both the spiked tooth and spring tooth harrow Balltr 
will save enough in a year to pay for itself. 
If you want a Zand Roller that will 
save ilspriceina tingle teason, yet a 
Roderick Lean Steel Land Roller. 
Send for llluatrated catalocue to-day. 
Spring 
TMtk Harrow. 
RODERICK LEAN MFG. CO. MANSFIELD.OHIO 
THE KEYSTONE 
Adjustabio Weedor and Shallow Gultivaton 
because of its |“A’ shape, adjustment and ground wheel excels all others. 
Shape enables it to fit ail rough and uneven surfaces. Wheel makes it run 
steady—prevents all vibration and “wobble.” Adjusts to feet wide for culti¬ 
vating entire surface. Narrows to 30 inches for cultivating “middles." Round 
teeth, blunt points for light soil. Flat teeth, diamond points for heavy soils. We 
Mail Weeder Booklet Free. Also make 10 styles of Corn Planters, 13 styles Cultiva¬ 
tors, 20 styles hand and power Corn Shellers, Harrows, Rollers, Feed Cutters, etc. Write 
for new Catalogue C KEYSTONE FARM MACHINE CO., 1547 N. Beaver St., YorK.Pa. 
Peed 
Mo. 23 Iron 
Fertilizer Dintributer 
nH n 
Side llretmer. 
your 
Crops, 
not 
the 
Barth 
Don’t Mraste Tonr fertilizer by scattering It and putting on all of it 
at one time. Apply It oftener and in small quantities. Put It close to 
the growing plant where it will do the most good. This implement 
shown In the cut will do this and turn fertilizer into money for you 
quicker than any other implement, it places nitrates or other fer¬ 
tilizers below the surface without injury to the plant, making a 
quicker and more thrifty growth, a more tender and more salable 
plant. This is the secret of the market gardener who is getting double 
prices for early vegetables. It is fully described in thelieautiful new 
Iron Age Book for 1901 describing all the 
Iron Age 
Farm and Garden implements 
They do farm and garden work better and quicker than any tools made. 
All of them—Seed Drills, Wheel Hoes, Riding Cultivators, Potato Planters, 
Horse Hoes and Cultivators, are made of the best materials, light running 
and strong. Send for the new Iron Ace Book and pamphlet on the uses 
of fertilizers In the garden. 
BATEMAN MFG. CO., Box |02 Gronloch, N. J. 
