472 
July 6 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FABMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Entablis/ied 1850. 
had a post office box at a small cigar store and spent 
most of his time in a saloon. After all the warning 
that has been printed we find it hard to raise much 
sympathy for one who sends money to such rogues. 
IlEKBEUT W. Cor.i.iNfiwooi>, Kditor. 
Dll. Walter Van Fleet, / 
U. K. Van Deman. >Associates. 
Mrs. K. T. Kovle, 1 
JouN J. DlLLO.N, Business MauaKCr. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, I'LOl, equal to 
Ss. (kl., or murks, or lUJis francs. 
“A SaUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement In this paper 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. We protect subscribers against rogues, but wo do not guar¬ 
antee to adjust trilling differences between subscribers and honest, 
responsible adveiUsers. Neither will wo be responsible for the debts 
of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint 
must bo sent us within one month of the time of the transaction, and 
you must have mentioned The Uural New-Yorker when writing 
the advertiser. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remittance Is for, should 
appear In every letter. 
Bemlttances may be made In money order, express order, personal 
check or bank draft. 
THE KimAL NKW-YORKKK, 
4U9 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, .JULY C, 1901. 
We have had many questions about cranberries 
and their culture. Some people with low, swampy 
land seem to think there is money in growing this 
tart and spicy fruit. There is a lack of practical in¬ 
formation on the subject, and we have arranged for 
a series of articles which will, we hope, tell the story. 
Questions will be welcomed from those who do not 
find in these articles what they wish to know. 
A NEW and strange disease has broken out among 
city horses. Over 15,000 horses in this city alone are 
reported sick. It is said to be a germ disease, and 
spreads rapidly. The cold, wet Spring was too much 
for many of these horses. They were kept hard at 
work, though drenched with cold rains day after day. 
The disease is likely to end in pneumonia unless 
carefully watched. It has not yet been troublesome 
in the country—^where horses are not crowded to¬ 
gether and on the whole are kept under better sani¬ 
tary conditions. In view of the fearful sickness here 
there is all the more reason why farm horses should 
bt well cared for. 
* 
We observe that trade papers and other interested 
parties are already beginning to talk “big crop” when 
discussing the apple prospect. Their object evidently 
is to make eastern growers believe that the western 
crop is very large—with more than enough surplus 
to overcome the evident shortage in the East. Prom 
all that we can learn the western crop, while larger 
than last year, will be less than the average. At the 
same time it is too early yet to tell accurately about 
it. The Government report puts the fruit crop of 
New York State at 75 per cent of an average. That 
seems little short of ridiculous in view of the facts 
and is little more than a guess at conditions. 
* 
Pui.i.iNG a mower thi-ough heavy grass in the broil¬ 
ing sun is about as hard work as a farmer can ask 
his team to do, and the discomfort of the horses is 
increased by the bites of savage flies, which swarm 
alt this season of the year. We have seen men work 
their teams before the mower until the poor animals 
were covered with foam, and nearly wild through 
the annoyance of flies. This might be avoided by 
stopping now and then when facing the wind, lifting 
the collars and giving the hot shoulders a chance to 
cool; and a slight investment in some effective fly 
killer would be an act of kindness to the horses, which 
have but little chance to fight the fly pest when in 
the harness. 
* 
The authorities have issued a fraud order against 
“Watson & Co.” of this city. This so-called firm ad¬ 
vertised in country newspaper, offering loans on real 
estate. Hundreds of country people with useless 
farm property jumped at the chance to obtain ready 
money on it. They were first met with a demand for 
“brokerage fees” which were $20 or more. Then there 
was a demand for money to pay for searching the 
title and later, another for additional expen,ses. 
Strange to say there were many who made all these 
payments. They were put off on one excuse after an¬ 
other, until finally they were informed that the loan 
could not be made after all! It cannot be found that 
a single loan was ever made by the so-called “firm," 
though they must have taken in hundreds of dollars 
in fees. This is a fair sample of the rogues who 
prosper at the expense of country people. A farmer 
once said about such a man; “He must be all right, 
for his office is on Broadway—the great business 
street of New York.” The man he referred to simply 
Tueke seems to be no doubt about the fact that the 
general quality of the milk shipped to this market 
has improved during the past few years. It is cleaner, 
and better cared for and cooled before it leaves the 
farms. There are a number of reasons for this. Peo¬ 
ple know more about milk and its needs than they 
used to. The scientific men have taught us a good 
deal about germs and bacteria, and we understand 
more of the importance of keeping them out of the 
pan and can. It is also true that the Five States 
Milk Producers’ Association has been infiuential in 
providing better milk. Any organization for busi¬ 
ness purposes in these days is sure to teach the peo¬ 
ple the necessity of putting pure, wholesome food on 
the market if they hope to command respect. That 
is one of the great advantages of cooperation among 
farmers, and the milk producers are learning it. 
* 
WiiAT are the requirements as to mail boxes under 
free rural mail delivery? The Post Office Department 
requires that such boxes be uniform on all routes es¬ 
tablished hereafter. The Department offers a list of 
14 different styles of boxes. This plan is to have pa¬ 
trons along a proposed route decide by vote or other¬ 
wise which of these 14 boxes they prefer. This hav¬ 
ing been decided the boxes must be uniform—all of 
the type agreed upon. On routes which were started 
before March 28 any suitable box is permitted, but as 
such boxes become unfit they will be condemned and 
must be replaced by one of the 14 mentioned. The 
boxes which are endoi-sed by the Department will be 
entitled to the protection of the United States 
Statutes, which will mean much to the owners. We 
see no fair objecuon to this plan of securing uniform 
boxes of approved shape and size. 
* 
A MEMBER of the Wisconsin Legislature proposes 
that the State establish a steam laundry at every 
cross-roads, to which the farmers’ washing and iron¬ 
ing may be brought each week. As Wisconsin is 
pretty well covered with creameries and cheese fac¬ 
tories there is in many places abundant power to op¬ 
erate such public laundries, and the idea is more 
practical than it at first appears. Free mail delivery 
and the telephone promise much in the way of relief 
from the monotony of country life, but the possibil¬ 
ity of lifting the drudgery of the weekly wash from 
the farmer’s wife should deserve the most earnest 
consideration. Much has been done to lighten the 
physical labors of the farmer in the way of riding 
tools and cooperative methods of harvesting bulky 
crops, but with the sole exception of relief from the 
care of dairy products in the creamery and milk 
shipping districts, the toils of the farm wife are as 
exacting as in past generations. Whether immediate 
practical action is taken on tliis progressive idea or 
not, the discussion of its possibilities will do much 
to familiarize the public with the need of lightening 
the toil of the most deserving class of the entire 
population of our country. 
* 
The daily papers have had much to say about the 
so-called “Platt amendment,” and its acceptance by 
the Cubans. Comparatively few Americans know 
what this Amendment is. Most people are ready to 
leave such things to the Administration and go about 
their own business until “hai-d times” shall once more 
turn them into unfair critics or stiff-necked partisans. 
In a general way people understand that the Cubans 
will receive a measure of political independence, but 
there are other things on the island which are even 
more important. They are more important because 
they deal with the development of human character, 
without which independence will prove a mere mock¬ 
ery. Mr. Hubbard refers to one of these things on 
page 466. When the war ended Cuba was filled with 
oi-phan or deserted children. In the single Province 
of Matanzas, out of a population of 190,000, there were 
33,000 widows and 32,000 little ones left without father 
or mother. This was but a part of the awful sacrifice 
which Cubans made for liberty. Many of these little 
ones starved to death, while others lived like little 
savages on roots or wastes. Of what value will in¬ 
dependence be to Cuba if the future Cubans are to 
be brought up in this fashion? The Platt amendment 
may be all very well, but there are other things on 
the Cuban platter that should be amended also. Mr. 
Hubbard and others like him are facing this problem 
bravely, and doing their best with limited funds. 
Many of these homeless children have been sent to 
this country, and have found homes here. Others 
are fitting themselves for citizenship in their native 
land. The parents of these children died for liberty. 
It is the duty of Americans to see that the offering 
was not made in vain. 
Quick sales are necessary in the perishable fruit 
trade during hot weather. Sometimes produce is too 
ripe when shipped, stands too long in the sun at ship¬ 
ping stations, or is delayed in transit, and gets here 
just on the verge of decay. In such cases the dealer 
often has to decide between selling it at once at a 
cut price, and letting it go to the garbage barrel. Of 
course the former plan is always the better, and those 
who have a regular commission merchant who has 
dealt squarely with them will be wise to leave such 
matters entirely to his judgment. Unfortunately 
there are unscrupulous dealers who let stuff spoil on 
their hands through neglect or careless handling, and 
too often the farmer has a just cause for complaint. 
A man guilty of wilful neglect in handling the goods 
of another is amenable to the law, if the complainant 
can prove his case, which is usually difficult, as he is 
not here, and does not know anything about it until 
the damage is done, while the receiver can lay it to 
anything but his own neglect. 
* 
A FEW weeks since we referred to a manufacturer 
who attempted to deceive the public by misquoting 
an endorsement. A scientist wrote a report of h.s 
experiments with a moth trap. He said it was ef¬ 
fective against a few insects, but worthless in fighting 
others more dangerous. The manufacturer cut out all 
qualifying statements and made the report read as 
though the scientist endorsed the trap without any 
reserve. A somewhat similar case is reported from 
California. The laws of that State require two re¬ 
strictions to the sale of Paris-green. It must contain 
at least 50 per cent of arsenous oxide, and not over 
four per cent of this shall be in a free or soluble 
form. The object of this is to prevent the sale of 
Paris-green which would burn or scald the foliage. A 
manufacturer sent a sample of his “green” to the 
Experiment Station for analysis. It contained the 
proper amount of arsenous oxide, but nearly 17 per 
cent of it was free. This was four times the amount 
pel mitted by law, yet the manufacturer said nothing 
about it. He used as much of the analysis as he 
thought would suit him, and cut out the rest! Much 
of this work is done because the manufacturer or 
dealer thinks the man he quotes will not bother 
about correcting a small thing. Therefore they carve 
or stretch the truth to suit themselves. The men 
who are misquoted in this way should make it their 
business to see that such things are righted! 
« 
BREI/ITIES. 
I saw a little child play in the sand. 
And try to fill his box with fistfuls small. 
It ran like water through his chubby hand, 
His little fingers could not hold it all. 
And then, with childish petulance he threw 
His pail of water on the hateful sand. 
When, lo! it took on strength and purpose new; 
He held it safely in his little hand. 
I thought how often we reach out for things 
That lack cohesion, order, unity. 
And, like the .sand, no record ever clings 
lo show our work and prove our constancy. 
Until almost by accident we throw 
Water upon the bright, elusive sand. 
And, strange to say, we feel life’s purpose grow 
Into firm character within our hand. 
Sand is tlie dry, hard, grinding toil that burns 
The brand of drudgery upon the clod. 
Water the love, ambition, faith, that turns 
The child of toll to lift his eyes to God. 
How the corn is jumping! 
Virtue is the antidote for vice. 
A HOT wind winds up the weeds. 
Head Mr. Van Deman’s Exposition notes. 
A QUESTION is wise or foolish according to the spirit 
in which you ask it. 
A French automobile has covered five miles in four 
minutes and 44 seconds. 
Have you not found graded stock on the whole more 
vigorous than pure bloods? 
All who have tried Mr. Clark’s method of grass cul¬ 
ture please stand up and report. 
The leaves of Alfalfa are strong in protein. Cut and 
cure the plant so as to save them. 
Ankylostomiasis is the name for a new disease, or 
rather a rare old one. We are glad it is rare. 
Mr. IjEWis says he has liad three maximum crops of 
potatoes in 20 years. Can you beat that? If so, how 
was it done? 
“French bitters”—a good name for Paris-green. Some 
’’bitters” designed for human consumption are slower 
but nearly as sure! 
The Kansas Experiment Station suggests dried blood 
as a calf tonic. Pure blood may answer, but some of 
the cheaper grades used for fertilizing will not do. 
Mississippi has a State university and an agricultural 
college, 'i’here is hope in the report that the university 
had 150 students, while the agricultural school had 500! 
During the past few days we have received a good 
many letters asking just how to make the Bordeaux 
Mi.xture. Every experiment station in the country has 
given this information time and again, and it has also 
appeared in many pamphlets and catalogues. Whose 
fault is it if any intelligent man fails to know Kow to 
prepare the Mixture? 
