4o8 
June 8 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
The l^ural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homea. 
E&tablUhed 1850. 
Herbbbt W. CouutNGWooD, Editor. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet, J 
u. B. Van Deman. VAssodateB. 
Mrs. B. t. Boyle, \ 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries In the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or 8^ marks, or lOHJ francs. 
“A SQUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement In this pa^r Is backed by a 
responsible person. But to make doubly sure we will make good any 
loss to paid subscribers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler 
advertising In our columns, and any such swindler will be publicly 
exposed. W protect subscribers ngalnst rogues, but we do net guar 
antee to adjust trilling differences between subscribers and honest 
responsible advertisers. Neither will we be responsible for the d°bts 
of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint 
must be sent us within one month of the time of the transaction, and 
you must have mentioned The Rural New-Yorker when writing 
the advertiser. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remittance Is for, should 
appear In every letter. 
Kemlttances may be made In money order, express order, personal 
check or bank draft. 
THE BUBAL NEW-YOBKEB, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1901 
Tiik oleo people receive little hope from the courts. 
Three oleo rogues in Philadelphia were convicted of 
selling their stuff illegally. They appealed to two 
higher courts, and were beaten. They then went to 
the United States Supreme Court, asking to have the 
decision against them reviewed. This has been de¬ 
nied, and now there is nothing for them to do but 
to face the music, which in this case might appro¬ 
priately be “The Rogue’s March.” 
if 
Two sets of tendencies or forces work in the devel¬ 
opment of any animal. One is the tendency to follow 
after the parents or their ancestors—the other the in¬ 
clination to vary or “sport.” The latter is always 
strong. When the parents differ widely in type and 
the ancestors have not been well or uniformly bred it 
is easily seen that the chances of producing a useful 
animal are poor. It is a clear case of gambling with 
all the best cards in your opponent’s hands. 
* 
A MAN who sent $1 to a concern for a “reliable tip” 
on the stock market, got a reply that stocks would 
soon go either up or down, they did not know which. 
Whatever may be said about their method of inducing 
the man to send his dollar, the reply was an honest 
one. “Tips” are usually good things to steer clear of, 
for most people who know how to make money 
quickly and easily take advantage of their own in¬ 
formation rather than go around peddling it at a dis¬ 
count. Money is handy stuff to have, but a man may 
become fearfully one-sided both mentally and morally 
by making money-getting his sole aim. It would 
seem to be foolish for one to narrow and cripple him¬ 
self in this way. 
* 
Rkpobts from the Central West are that wheat is 
quite good in quality but that the acreage is light. 
Many farmers reasoned last Fall that they had had a 
total loss, and that wheat had not paid for 10 years. 
When they got a fair crop the price went down to 
60 cents. For the first time in the lives of many they 
had to buy their own seed. About half an afereage 
was the result. Machine men say that'binders were 
not worn out the last two years, and that there is not 
the usual demand for them. Mowers are selling well, 
and corn planters and cultivators quite well. Corn 
has been the paying crop for several years past. The 
export demand holds prices up, and many think that 
it will soon be equal in price with wheat. The large 
acreage of corn for two years past will make a big 
wheat sowing this Fall in order to rest land corned 
twice. Farmers are prosperous, independent and 
happy. Their homes are more beautiful and con¬ 
venient than in the past. A good indication of rural 
prosperity is the fact that many new telephone lines 
are stretching out to the farmhouses. 
* 
The pioneer of a century ago cut a hole in the 
forest, built a log house and began the struggle for 
food. His clearing was small at first. The trees 
about it were high, and shadows brooded in it. It 
was a dismal place on stormy or gloomy days. Life 
seemed to be narrowed into a little square. In many 
cases the woman sickened and pined away. The man 
lost heart and went back where some one else had 
made a larger place for the sunshine. Others had 
stouter hearts. They kept at work with their axes in 
spite of shadow and doubt and loneliness. Tree by 
tree the forest fell away and the plow followed. 
Slowly the farm spread, and the sun came in until, 
finally, almost before the farmer realized what he 
was doing he looked out over broad acres and found 
that he had saved his farm. How proud such a farmer 
must have oeen to realize that he had fought the wil¬ 
derness successfully and cleared the land! Yet, has 
he any more right to be proud than his son or grand¬ 
son who, amid all the great changes of industrial and 
social life, has held the farm true to its old-time tra¬ 
dition? No, we do not think so. In some cases it has 
been harder to adapt the farm to the changes that 
have gone on all around it than it was to cut it out 
of the forest. Yes, farming to-day requires more in¬ 
telligence, a quicker insight, more patience and a 
surer grasp of details than ever before. Still, now as 
ever, the way to broaden opportunity and clear the 
farm of obstacles is to attack them bravely one by 
one, and never give up. 
* 
On page 415 Mr. Cook alludes to the fact that the 
annual consumption of cheese per capita in the United 
States is but three pounds, while in Great Britain the 
consumption is 18 pounds per capita. He thinks that 
it would be an advantage not only to the cheese 
maker, but also to the consumer, if we could encour¬ 
age a greater use of this nutritious food. Berhaps 
one reason why we do not eat a greater quantity of 
cheese is me poor quality of the article as offered 
in most small or local groceries. Few are the village 
stores where good cheese is in stock, and the price 
is usually quite out of proportion for its nutritive 
value. Lean, bitter and poorly ripened, it is no won¬ 
der that cohsumers find it indigestible, and eat of it 
but sparingly. It merely makes its appearance as an 
extra on the tea table or an occasional accompaniment 
of pastry, instead of forming a part of the actual 
meal. Cheese should be used freely in cooking, but 
the leathery filled or skim cheese has disgusted many 
who have tried to use it, and thus lessened the mar¬ 
ket for better materials. Plenty of good cheese is 
made; let us insist that it be supplied, and the home 
demand will surely increase. 
A FAIR synopsis of the points covered by the Su- 
pieme Court decision in the Porto Rican cases is 
given in our news column. It appears that when ter¬ 
ritory is acquired by purchase or conquest it becomes 
a part of the United States. It does not. however, 
obtain the full rights enjoyed by the various States 
until given such rights by Congress, as in the case 
of Utah or Montana. Thus the supreme power of the 
land is vested in Congress, and the President merely 
executes its will. The most important business ques¬ 
tion involved in this decision was the right of the 
Government to levy and collect tariff duties on goods 
brought from Porto Rico. If that Island were as 
much a part of this country as Maine or Nevada it is 
clear that any such tariff would be unjust and illegal. 
The Court decides that since the Island is not yet a 
State of the Union Congress has a right to fix tariff 
laws to govern imports from it. American producers 
of beet sugar, hemp, tobacco, wool and fruits fear the 
free imports of these products from the Spanish isl¬ 
ands. They have argued that when this territory 
came under the American flag their business would 
be at the mercy of cheap foreign labor. It now ap¬ 
pears that Congress has the right to regulate such im¬ 
ports in case it is evident that free trade would be 
injurious to the American farmer. 
* 
Dr. E. E. Hale is credited with saying: “If you 
should take 12 prize-medal men from Harvard and 
put them in a sinking ship, they would all drown from 
inability to construct a raft.” That is probably true, 
though it is not likely that one in 1,000 of Harvard 
men would ever be placed in any such situation. It 
would puzzle even the most “practical” man alive to 
make a raft on a modern iron ship! Prof. H. M. Cot¬ 
trell puts the idea in another way: 
Travelers say the world is lull of men who have taken 
a good general college training, and who have spent 
thousands on tlieir education, who are glad to get places 
as waiters at lunch counters or as motormen on street 
cars, while as soon as a man has fitted himself to feed 
skim-milk calves successfully half a dozen men are wait¬ 
ing to hire him at good wages. 
We know from experience that educated men are 
obliged to take hard and humble jobs at times, but 
they do not always stay at tne foot. Unless there be 
moral and mental force in the man, the most prac¬ 
tical training on earth will never save him. The calf 
feeder may be so mean, hateful or dishonest that he 
would even make kickers or “robber cows” out of his 
calves, though they excelled in size and shape. Are 
we not overdoing this “practical” business? It has 
got to the point where Comptroller Coler, of this city, 
is reported as saying: “In my opinion, the city is 
better served where there is a man who is not very 
moral, but who is very smart, than ’oy a man who is 
absolutely honest but very ignorant.” We do not 
say that there is anything in the great hustle and 
push after a practical training that should weaken 
character, but let us remember that the ability to 
earn a great saiary is not the whole story. 
The Massachusetts State Grange has gone into the 
insurance business.' It assumed control of an old 
mutual fire insurance company, and seems likely to 
make a success of it. One of our readers thus states 
the case: 
Of course they do not insure all farm property, only 
that of members of the Grange, thereby avoiding the 
most undesirable risks, although they do not refuse to 
insure desirable village property. While farm property 
may not be so well protected in case of fire as other 
property, we consider that the buildings belonging to the 
members of our organization are as good risks as any 
others. Our order is composed of intelligent, prudent 
and careful people, thereby reducing the risk from fire, 
and we also consider that the moral risk is less than it 
is with average people. 
For several years now many of the regular fire in¬ 
surance companies have refused to insure farm prop¬ 
erty. In such States as Michigan and New York 
farmers have taken the matter into their own hands, 
and organized cooperative companies, which have been 
very successful. Organization! That is the watch¬ 
word everywhere. Organization—not for aggression, 
but for defence! 
It is quite common to find farmers who complain 
about the wrongs of society. They say that competi¬ 
tion, crime, the trusts and other things have created 
a dangerous class of citizens. Children are growing 
up in ignorance or with wrong training, who will 
prove a menace to the country unless they are given 
a better chance. Much that these farmers say is true. 
The towns and cities contain thousands of orphan or 
neglected children who will be left to grow up as best 
they can, or what is not much better, start life in 
some “institution” or reform school. Whenever we 
hear farmers talk about such things we feel like ask¬ 
ing them what they are doing to remedy the trouble. 
The children are here. They cannot be made into 
good citizens by mere talk and complaint. What they 
need more than all else is home and home influence. 
Some of these very farmers might well take one or 
more of such children and bring them up. That 
would be true public service—a duty to country and 
humanity. Not only that, but many a discontented 
and unhappy farm couple would find life beautiful 
and ennobled by giving home and love to a child. 
* 
BREVITIES. 
As one who waking in the night 
From off the pillow lifts his head. 
While o’er him comes a sudden dread. 
And yet he dare not seek a light. 
And so he will not search it out; 
There may be naught, he does not know, 
But lest to surety doubt may grow 
He lies and hugs his trembling doubt. 
O anxious soul, by thoughts oppressed 
Of that dread future, far, yet near. 
Cease to essay the question here; 
Death will respond or else give rest. 
—The Lantern World. 
liTME lightens low land. 
How is Ruoy Queen doing? 
This will be a great year for the hay tedder. 
We advise a small trial of Cowhorn turnips in corn. 
DI.SAGREE with people if you must, but don’t fight 
over It. 
An awful season, this, for the people who sell or rent 
b.cycles. 
No, grass cannot grow on rain alone—It must have 
sunshine. 
This Is bad weather on the contents of the small farm 
ice house. 
WE cannot find a single plant of our Winter oats. They 
jiaid their cost last Fall in pasture. 
Leave the table wishing for another slice, and you will 
find the wish change to joy that you did not take it. 
Think of a man foolish enough to attempt to conquer 
the forces of the world before he can conquer himself! 
Whether It’s a question of exportation, consumption 
or digestion it Is always the little surplus that spoils 
the trade. 
A teamster In this city whose horse was poisoned with 
cyanide of potassium was ready to swear that “snide 
liolassum’’ was used. 
Is government organized for the benefit of the poor 
man? Not especially, but he ought to have an equal 
chance with the rich. 
To get the most out of lime do not put it on the sur¬ 
face after grass or grain has started. Put it on after 
plowing and harrow it in before sowing the seed. 
IjAST year the people of this country sent the Chinese 
$S33,710 worth of ginseng. No doubt about it—If we could 
get them to take that value in American apples'all hands 
would be better off. 
Attention is called to the description of the soiling 
system practiced at the New Jersey Experiment Station. 
The first article is printed on page 413. We hope to follow 
the crops right through the season. 
Anthropology is the science of man—the study of the 
human functions and body. A professor of anthropology 
in Chicago says that a man who parts his hair In the 
middle “displays unmistakable evidence of a degenerate 
instinct.” 
