1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
i9i 
hope fahk motes. 
LOCAL Prices.—I am getting letters from 
farmers who ask why they cannot send 
eggs and pork here, and sell them for 
what our local markets have offered. One 
man in Prattsburg writes thus: 
“I saw in The R. N.-Y. that dressed pork 
is selling at 81/2 cents per pound. Will you 
send me the name of some one who will 
pay that price? I have one pig that will 
dress 150 pounds or better, that I will send 
at that price.” 
Really. I ought not to refer to local 
jirices, for the conditions in Bergen County, 
N. J., are peculiar. It is an old farming 
country, which is slowly being cut up into 
little tow'ns for commuters—or those who 
work in New York and sleep in New Jer¬ 
sey. These people spend nights and Sun¬ 
days at home, and their families are here 
all the time. They are good buyers, 
though many of them have a garden and 
keep a flock of hens. Many of the old farms 
are no longer worked. The owners raise 
a little hay or some corn, but a great pro¬ 
portion of the food consumed in the county 
is brought in from outside. The little 
tow’ns of from 300 to 1,500 people are scat¬ 
tered along the railroads a few miles apart. 
Good Markets.— “This must be an ideal 
market.” the farmer back on the hills will 
say. In one sense it is, and yet our local 
farmers have failed to take advantage of 
it, and dealers have formed the habit of 
going to Paterson or New York for pro¬ 
duce. Strange to say, the farmers carry 
their stuff to these large cities, too, and 
there it is bought and sold, so that the 
crop from a farm, after all this handling, 
may come back to a grocery store within 
a mile of where It was grown! The local 
market has never been organized, so that 
both dealers and farmers are working as 
individuals, and, of course, no single farmer 
can hope to keep several dealers suiiplied 
all through the season. Naturally the 
dealers prefer to buy of wholesalers, for 
then they can get just what they w'ant at 
any time. A farmer who has a knack for 
Iieddling can sell lots of produce in our 
country, and some of them do it. There 
is, however, a fearful competition from 
hucksters, who buy cheap fruits and vege¬ 
tables in the city in times when the mar¬ 
ket is glutted, and simply flood the coun¬ 
try. They cut prices away out of sight, 
and nearly ruin the markets for the time. 
Thus far, on the new Hope Farm, we have 
sold to peddlers rather than to private cus¬ 
tomers, though some eggs and potatoes 
have been handled direct. On the old place 
we peddled more or less, but 1 felt that 
more was lost in neglect of the growing 
crops than was gained in the retail price. 
I would like to get about a dozen farmers 
to club together and agree to raise a cer¬ 
tain amount of stuff, and let one .good 
man handle it. But when you find 12 farm¬ 
ers who would trust each other in this way, 
I fear they will be very far apart. The 
total stranger with the limber tongue beats 
the old-time neighbor whose solid char¬ 
acter is known for attracting confldence 
and cash. 
Special Prices. —The price I mentioned 
for pork was a special one. Most of the 
pork eaten in our county comes from the 
West. These western carcasses are too 
large and too fat to suit the best custo¬ 
mers. There are a number of families in 
every town who want small cuts with 
plenty of lean meat. A pig that will dress 
about 125 pounds will cut up just about 
right for this trade, and local butchers will 
often pay big prices for them. They like 
to see those pigs before they are slaught¬ 
ered. It would not pay them to buy single 
pigs from a distance. The freight or ex¬ 
press would eat up too much money, and 
they might get into trouble with the 
dressed-meat trust if they began shipping 
in meat. I can see little chance for an 
outsider to cater to this trade. It is local 
entirely. ^Vhen 1 spoke of selling eggs 
“eight for a (luarter” I should have said 
that this price was only foi' a small and 
select ti-ade. Strangers have often asked 
us to tell them how to get these prices, 
but I do not know of any way except by 
coming face to face with the consumer. 
All quotations of prices are more or less 
misleading, unless we understand just what 
they mean. 
Sawing Wood. —Not long ago a farmer, 
who lives in the Adirondacks, told of hir¬ 
ing a man, two horses and a tread power 
for $2.50 per day, for sawing wood. A 
friend in New Hampshire writes that he 
has to pay $4 a day, with dinner, for a 
man and two horses for nine hours’ work! 
I had to pay $4 a day for a man and 
steam engine—we furnishing the saw. It 
cut up a great pile of wood, and it looks 
like economy to use wood for fuel, but I 
am not quite so sure of it after all. If we 
count the time spent in cutting and haul¬ 
ing wood, at regular teamster's wages, it 
is an even chance that coal will prove 
cheaper. I do not consider it fair, how¬ 
ever, to figure the labor of men or team 
at what others obtain for a very different 
job. If 1 had a chance to put men and 
team at a job that would bring $4 a day in 
cash, I certainly would not haul wood. 
Soaking Potato Seed.— It is time to be¬ 
gin the annual battle against potato scab. 
Here is a letter about it: 
“Will formalin kill the sprouts of the 
potatoes, or will it be perfectly safe to use 
it on seed potatoes? Is there any danger 
in using the formalin—burning the hands, 
or are fumes poisonous? Is there any¬ 
thing better for using?” w. f.' 
We have not tried formalin on badly- 
sprouted seed, but would not fear to do 
so. At the strength we have named we 
should not expect any trouble. In large 
doses formalin is a poison, but as used 
for soaking potato seed there will be no 
danger either from the fumes or in wounds 
or cuts. Corrosive sublimate is used by 
many. It is effective, but is poisonous, and 
will certainly bite if it gets into a place 
where the skin is off. Last year we used 
dry sidphur dusted on all the seed pieces. 
While this is probably not so effective as 
soaking the seed in either formalin or cor¬ 
rosive sublimate, I consider it very useful 
and shall always do it. 'fhe sulphur is 
frightful on the eyes, though, when you 
l)lant on a windy day. 
A Little Shadow.— I tell many of our 
outdoor failures at Hope Farm, but it must 
not be thought that we have no shadows 
indoors because 1 do not speak of them. 
I thought of this last Sunday afternoon, 
and wondered how many of our readers 
were free from trouble, and how many 
farmhouses were entirely out of the shadow 
of impending sorrow on that day. Dinner 
was over. The Madame, Grandmother and 
Hugh had represented us at church and 
Sunday school. Outside the air was damp 
and raw. The upper two inches of the 
earth's frosty crust had been thawed out 
by the bright sun, only to freeze up again 
when Jack Frost chased the sun over the 
hill. We did not like the appearance of 
the children in the morning, and so before 
dinner 1 drove Dan to the doctor’s and 
left word for him to come when he could. 
So after dinner we sat in our sitting room 
b<‘fore a comfortable fire, waiting for the 
doctor. The Madame was reading the Life 
of Phillips Brooks. Grandmother studied 
'I'he Kvangelist, Hugh read a magazine, 
while the Cutting and Aunt Jennie were 
absorbing two good old volumes. Charlie 
and Aunt Emma were in their own room 
upstairs. The poor little Scion lay on the 
lounge, weak and silent, and the little 
Bud seemed as hot and feverish as an 
oven, as she cuddled up to me in the arm 
chair. We were glad and yet anxious 
when w'e saw the old doctor’s big brown 
horse jogging up the road. To me there is 
something nobly pathetic in the life of 
these good old country doctors, as they 
journey over the hills and along the val¬ 
leys carrying through silent, lonely places 
more than their share of the great secret 
of human life and suffering. I suppose it 
is true that, in a sense, a man becomes 
hardened to his trade, and yet 1 have often 
thought that I would like to look into that 
place in the heart of one of these old doc¬ 
tors where a man keeps hidden the best 
part of his life, and see what 1 could find. 
'Phe old doctor’s face grew a little serious 
as he saw the Scion. It was a mild ctise 
of pneumonia! The Bud’s case was not so 
dangerous—probably the grippe. It wasn’t 
long before they had a iilaster on the little 
fellow’s back, while the doctor was meas¬ 
uring out his medicines from the little 
case which he always carries. He gave his 
directions, put in a good word for all, and 
then jogged off behind the big brown horse 
to some other home, where disease or 
death stood ready to grapple with him. So 
you see we htive our shadows like the rest 
of you. You may be sure that the little 
Scion will be w^ell cared for, and with the 
good doctor to back them up the Madame 
iind Atint Jennie will mtike :i roytil battle 
for him. 
FAR.vt Notes.—T his freeze and thaw is 
tough on the grass seeding. Plenty of the 
grass on that field where we tried the 
Glark method has been thrown oitt by the 
roots. It looks much like a failure. But, 
say, what’s the use to talk that wtiy? 1 
have been carried right side ttp thniugh 
a hundred so-called failures, and 1 won’t 
give that grass up yet! .... The hens 
laid 321 eggs in February, and are now 
striking their gait iti good shape. 
The new hoghouse is progressing. We 
hoite to have a clean, airy plticc for otir 
sows. We have put it right oitt in the 
field—away from the other buildings. 
. . . . It begins to look as though 1 
should get into the dairy business yet. 
'Phe latest additions to the Hope Farm 
family aie Julia and Genevieve (1 didn't 
name them), a cow and heifer, which I 
bought of a neighbor. h. w. c. 
, BEAUTIFY YOUR CARDEN 
and Grounds by onr practical help and ad¬ 
vice in Garden Plans. Yours for the ask- 
I ing. Largest, most complete and varied 
' stock of every known hardy tree, tArt<&,and 
hardy plant. Lowest Rates. Highest 
quality. We strive to keep in touch 
with all parden lovers, and help them, 
s Send tor our catalogue and then 
write us about your needs. 
102 State St., BOSTON, MASS. 
free: 
H RrkiiAa. Wikt.Ai* 
E 
Illustrated Catalogue 
of Choice Kvergreens. 
Shrubs, Fruit, other Trees, 
Roses, Water Lilies, etc. Prices low. 
S. PKTKRSON & SONS, Box 1.5, Montrose, N. Y. 
A NEW ASPARAGUS 
Donald's Elmira, 
That delicate sliadeof green which delights 
the connoiseur. Crisp, tender and of superb 
flavor. Hardy, prolific and enormous In 
size. A bunch of 12 stalks often weighs 4 
lbs. This means much less labor in cutting, 
bunching, etc. Our stock Is prime. Strong 
roots. Kleffer Pear, Apple, I'eueh, Plum; 
150 vurletiea. Nobettergrowii. Straw* 
berry plants; 50 v arletles. Catalog free. 
HARRISON’S NURSERIES, Box 29 BERLIN. Md. 
Buckeye Fertilizer Hoe Drill. 
The Buckeye Combined Crain 
and Fertilizer Hoe Drill, 
as shown in the illu.stration, is without doubt 
the most perfect grain and fertilizer drill made. 
Has our Change of Speed Device, and our Double 
Run Force Feed, which sows wheat, corn, oats, 
peas, beans, beet seeds, cow peas, etc , with uni¬ 
form accuracy. Al.so our Glass Fertilizer Feed. 
The employment of glass in the construction of 
a fertilizer feed makes it possible to obviate the 
corroding of the mechanism and doing away with 
the annoyance commonly found in other fertilizer 
drills. This is a patented feature, and used ex¬ 
clusively on the lirCKE'YK. Sows all kinds of fertilizer evenly and successfully. 
Send for complete drill circular. Address 
P. P. MAST & GO., No. 9 Canal Street, Springfield, Ohio. 
or PHILADELPHIA, PA. 
The OHIO SULKY CULTIVATOR 
Built entirely of steel with exception of tongue and 
neck yoke. Light in construction. Simple In action. 
Patent steel wheels and adjustable arch axle. Six 
shovels and interchangeable gangs. Equipped with 
the new beam-lift spring, which assists In raising 
beams out of the ground. The easy 
Hammock Seat 
swung on adjustable seat arms 
allows of adjustment to suit the 
length of leg of operator. The first 
llammock-seat Cultivator put on the 
market. Built In all styles and sizes. 
Send for illustrated catalogue of full 
Hue of farm implements. 
The Ohio CuHivaior Company, 
Bellevue, Ohio, 
IMCHESTE 
FAmnOADEO SHOTSUN sheus 
; Leader/^ and *^Repeaier*^ 
Insist upon having them, take no others and you will get the best shells that money can buy. 
ALL DEALERS KEEP THEM. 
LEAN’SHARROWS sLAND ROLLERS 
Bpik* T<Mth U.ITOW. 
Spring 
Twtk Harrow. 
' I ! ■ u l i \ more e 
Lean barrows make fat harvests. They do more work and do it 
more efliciently than any other harrow. They tear up the ground, 
smooth it fur sowing, harrow in the seed, kill the weeds after the 
crop comes up. The teeth are adjusted to suit any condition 
the soil. By a touch of a lever they are instantly cleared 
trash without stopping the team. The, 
most substantial and finest finished farm implements 
made to-day. Made entirely of steel, light and dur¬ 
able. Both the spiked tooth and spring tooth harrow 
will save enough in a year to pay for itself. 
If you want a Land Roller that will, 
save its price in a single season, get a 
Roderick Lean Steel Land Roller. 
8«nd for lllaatrated catalocue to-day. 
RODERICK LEAN MFG. CO. MANSFIELD.OHlO. 
BREED’S 
Universal Weeder 
Is the best weeder ever made for all con¬ 
ditions of soil. For killing weeds and pul¬ 
verizing the soil It has no equal. T teet ti 
inches wide, permanent tooth, and best of 
material and workmanship. Former price, 
$8; we will send It direct to farmers for $4 
f.o.b., Boston. No agents. 'You get the bene¬ 
fit. Order at once. The supply is limited. 
UNIVERSAL WEEDER CO., 
32 8. Market Street, Boston, Mass. 
PERFECI GULTIYAIION 
Can be expanded 
epa 
to 7^ tut. 
. —the kind that means perfect 
crops, presumes the use of 
some implement which will 
thoroughly break up the top 
soil crust, thoroughly uproot- 
k-ing every weed, and admitting 
the light,air, warmth and moisture, 
K EYSTOIH P Adjustable Weeder 
& Shallow Cultivator 
will do It every time, for all crops and on all soils. 
Can be expanded to cover a sweep of feet, or narrowed down to 30 inches to be used be¬ 
tween the rows. They are not like other weeders—they are better. Works where the 
straight frame weeder is incapacitated. No cumbersome shafts. Runs steady. Strong, 
springy, pliable teeth. Blunt ^ints for tender, sensitive plants. Flat teeth with diamond 
Doints for heavy clay soils, if desired. Booklet on 'Weeders mailed free. 
IVe also make 10 styles Corn Planters, 12 styles Cultivators. 20 styles Com Shellers—hand 
and power, Harrows. Field Rollers, Feed Cutters, etc. Write for new Catalogue C. 
Keystone Farm Machine Co., 1547 N. Beaver St.,York,Pa. 
Csab«B.rraw«d 
to SO loehsa. 
