52D 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
July 27 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Establiehed 1850. 
Uekbekt \V. COLLINGWOOU, Editor. 
Dll. Wabter Van Fleet, / 
H. E. Van Deman. >Associates. 
Mrs. B. T. Uoyle, \ 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries In the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. Gd., or 814 marks, or lOJ.^ fraLCs. 
“ A SQUARE 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 we do not guar¬ 
antee to adjust trifling differences between subscribers and honest, 
resi)onsible adveiUsers. Neither will we be responsible for the debts 
of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint 
must b© sent us within one month of the time of the transaction, and 
you must have mentioned The Kural New-Yorkeb when writing 
the advertiser. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remittance is for, should 
appear In every letter. i 
Komittanccs may be made In money order, express order, personal 
check or bank draft. _ 
THE RUKAIi NEW-YORKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, JULY 27, 1901. 
Adl applications for the Ruby Queen rose received 
since July 1 have been filed, and the plants will be 
mailed next Spring, as soon as a new lot can be pro¬ 
pagated. The season is now too far advanced for the 
successful planting of young roses. 
* 
During the past few years many legal papers were 
signed but not stamped as the law required. It has 
become a custom to put the stamps on when the 
money or other obligation was required. Now that 
the law no longer requires these stamps on money 
contracts it was hoped that these old papers would 
escape the tax. The Treasury Department decides 
that the date of the paper is the date of delivery. In 
other words, all such contracts made during the years 
when the tax was in force must be stamped before 
payment can be enforced. 
« 
We have a letter from a reader in Pennsylvania 
who expects to visit the Pan-American Exposition. 
He purposed to load up before starting. He is a fruit 
grower and he wants the names of some of the best 
fruit men in Niagara County, so that he can go and 
look at their farms. We call that business. Some 
people would not care to look at a tree while away 
from the farm, but this man wants to learn all he can. 
He will find some useful teachers among the trees 
and men of Niagara County. If he could only attend 
one of the meetings of the Niagara County Farmers’ 
Club he would have the educational trip of a lifetime. 
* 
We begin the discussion of the question of farm 
values this week. We try to obtain reports free from 
prejudice. We are after a fair statement of true farm 
values as compared with former years. Thus far a 
majority of the reports seem to show that farm values 
have declined, and that it is much harder than form¬ 
erly to sell farm lands. We have also reports of in¬ 
crease in such values. In some localities it is cer¬ 
tainly true that the earning capacity of the land has 
been increased, so that its value for the business of 
farming has risen. In some cases this is due to the 
production of special crops, like apples, while in 
others it is due to the general improvement of the 
soil, or to a new town population caused by greater 
outputs of oil or coal. We wish to learn about these 
things, so that it may be made clear why such farm 
values rise or fall. 
* 
Some remarkable predictions have lately been pub¬ 
lished, attributed to Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, 
to the effect that within a few years the United States 
will raise and produce everything it needs without 
recourse to foreign importations. Tea will be grown 
in immense quantities in the South, and rubber, 
coffee, spices and other tropical products in the 
various islands recently added to our political terri¬ 
tory. Sugar is to be turned out in such incredible 
quantities by the beet sugar factories that the Sec¬ 
retary says, in his opinion, the sugar trust will van¬ 
ish, as it now depends on the refining of imported 
brown sugar for its profits, while the beet factories 
turn out the finished product. We all hope that the 
'Secretary’s glowing prophecies will materialize, but 
only a child-like and sanguine temperament can ex¬ 
pect the effacement of the sugar trust by the increase 
of home production. The steel, oil and the countless 
other monopolies, covering almost every commodity 
in general use, certainly do not depend on the impor¬ 
tation of raw material for their profits, but on their 
absolute power to control the output and fix the sell¬ 
ing price on one hand and the cost of production on 
the other. If refined sugar could be made at home by 
every farmer who grows the beets, just as maple 
sugar is produced, there might be some hope of worry¬ 
ing the trust, but it is well known that the beet sugar 
process requires the investment of great capital to 
construct and operate an effective plant. It does not 
need a very expansive intellect to foresee the round¬ 
ing up of all the beet sugar factories in, a grand trust, 
possibly by the very capital now used by the present 
sugar trust in refining imported sugar. It is no more 
rational to wait for the trust problem to solve itself 
than to wait for an epidemic of yellow fever 'to burn 
itself out without taking all known precautions to re¬ 
strict the plague. A cure for predatory trusts will 
come in due time, but hardly in the manner outlined 
by our imaginative Secretary of Agriculture. 
* 
The French have developed the automobile so that 
it has become a really serviceable machine for com¬ 
mon use. There was recently a road race from Paris 
to Berlin in which remarkable speed was made. Part 
of this success is due to the fine country roads which 
now cover France and Germany. Our country roads 
are not yet ready for the auto—but it will come. It 
is not too much to expect that the coming farmer 
will own a machine which will hustle his crops or 
his family over the road, and if required stand on 
three wheels and hold up one to turn machinery or 
pump water. 
• 
We desire to call attention to Mr. Morse’s article 
on page 514. It may be said tnat the practical gar¬ 
dener cannot afford to bother with seen growing. It 
ought to be evident that he can well afford to plant 
improved varieties or strains of vegetables. We do 
not believe he can depend on the seedsmen entirely 
for improved strains any more than the dairyman 
can depend on the breeder of purebred stock. Both 
must do more or less breeding and selecting in barn 
and garden in order to secure the individuals that 
are exactly suited to their farm. Mr. Morse explains 
this matter well. Another thing which he does not 
refer to is the fact that such study and observation 
will prove the most interesting work that an intelli¬ 
gent gardener can take up. If one can interest the 
boys and girls in such study the farm will have 
stronger attractions for them and they will make bet¬ 
ter farmers and better citizens. 
The wheat crop of the country seems assured. All 
reports indicate that it will be the largest crop ever 
produced in America. The corn crop seems to be in 
danger. Much of it was planted late, and the fright¬ 
ful hot weather of the past two weeks has been very 
destructive in the great corn-growing States. Our 
own reports show that corn is likely to make a fair 
crop after all. The late planted fields are now grow¬ 
ing fast, and the plant has wonderful vitality and wi 1 
often recover and make a fair yield after it appears 
to be ruined. A season like this brings out the vast 
importance of the corn crop. It does not rank in ex¬ 
port value with wheat. Last year the total exports of 
corn and cornmeal were valued at $87,354,810, as com¬ 
pared with $140,997,966 worth of wheat and fiour. That 
was largely because Europeans do not yet know a 
good thing when they see it. The total value of last 
year’s corn crop was $751,220,034, against $323,525,177 
as the value of the wheat. No wonder people are 
worrying about the corn crop. Its loss will be a Na¬ 
tional calamity. 
* 
The following letter from a reader of The R. N.-Y. 
is worth more than passing attention; 
I believe that The R. N.-Y. is meant for people who 
do not know it all, and W'ho want to know more. The 
questions I have to ask will seem very simple doubtless 
to the one who answers them, but are very important 
to me. I am just beginning, and the things I don’t 
know are legion. If you have an expert at your dis¬ 
posal, and can spare the space will you have the ques¬ 
tions answered? I do not care for the opinions of the 
average readers. I can get all sorts of advice at home, 
but want something scientific and authoritative. 
Our friend is right in supposing that The R. N.-Y. 
is chiefiy for those “who do not know it all, and who 
want to know more.” We do not feel competent to 
satisfy the “know-it-all” folks, and shall not try to do 
so. We welcome questions, no matter how simple 
they may be, provided those who ask them are sin¬ 
cere in their desire for information. We think we 
are safe in saying that no agricultural paper in the 
world has a wider range of corresiiondents, or a more 
thorough acquaintance with agricultural experts and 
authorities. While we try to make all answers clear 
and easily understood, in case the meaning is not 
made plain we are always willing to try again and 
make the information more soluble. There is a great 
demand for advice from practical people. Our friend 
has had an overwhelming supply of home advice, and 
now wishes to test it at the cooking stove of science. 
We shall try to start the fire. 
Benefits from organizations among farmers are 
not always evident at once. The surest and most en¬ 
during growth is slowest, and sometimes months or 
years must pass by before definite results are to be 
seen. In some cases, too, the benefit, if any, does not 
come in the way that was expected, but indirectly— 
through some unexpected means. An illustration of 
this is found, in the history of the Five States Milk 
Producers’ Association. This organization started out 
to sell and deliver enough milk to control the supply 
in this great city. The job was too big, and the plan 
failed, at various times. Then the Association began 
quietly and steadily to encourage the building of co¬ 
operative creameries and cheese factories. In this 
way they are providing the true outlet for the sur¬ 
plus milk, and if the plan can be fully worked out the 
producers will finally control the market. Several 
years ago the farmers through the South and West 
made a tremendous effort to better their condition. 
They organized the Farmers’ Alliance and Populist 
parties. While most of their political plans failed, 
they did, without starting to do so, organize some so¬ 
cial and industrial reforms that could not have been 
started otherwise. In old times the farmers dealt and 
competed with individuals. Now, from carrier to 
final seller his products are mostly handled by or¬ 
ganizations. There is therefore more reason than 
ever before why farmers should join their forces. 
• 
BREVITIES. 
Beside a southern river years ago. 
Over which he rowed his ferry to and fro, 
A shrewd oid negro with a wrinkied face 
Sat nodding in his shady resting piace. 
When the horn biew upon the other side 
Oid Uncle John his stiffened joints untied. 
And siowly rowed until his shortened sight 
Revealed his passenger—a raw “poor white,” 
With skin, hair, ciothes, shoes, teeth the same duil hue. 
The captain of the ferryboat well knew 
The breed—he made his bargain while afloat 
“It cost free cents to ride in this here boat,” 
With whining voice the fellow made reply, 
“I ain’t got no three cents—ner no one nigh 
Ter lend me none”— 
—“Well, sar, ef any man 
Can’t raise three cents an’ hasn’t got no plan 
Ner nothin’ else it surely ’pears ter me 
Ez fur ez I am competent ter see. 
It don’t make no great odds fer loss or gain. 
Which side de ribber no such man remain!” 
No rum on the fair grounds! 
Oat and pea fodder is a perfect cow ration. 
Oh, how the clover is starting after the grain! 
The hay crop seems, on the whole, disappointing. 
No! No! You can’t irrigate a dry field from the eyes. 
Hard to And—a hired man who will feed grain to the 
stock economically. 
We do not care for guesses at truth unless they are 
plainly marked as such. 
The most destructive battery that you can turn on 
some good folks is flattery. 
At Hartford, Conn., the kerosene remedy for mos¬ 
quitoes has been tried with success. 
The Coddling moth gets into the heart of many a 
parent and ruins the spirit of the child. 
Wise was that man, he may make farming pay, who 
hoed or cultivated when he could not hay. 
The practical men are divided on the question of 
spraying potatoes with Bordeaux Mixture. 
Is it safe to fumigate seeds with the fumes of hydro¬ 
cyanic acid gas? Not when they are damp. 
Do you know that it pays to spray potatoes with 
Bordeaux Mixture, or do you just think so? 
It is reported that during the fearful heat in the 
West prices offered for eggs went down to three cents 
per dozen! 
Why have the experiment stations suddenly stopped 
issuing bulletins on tuberculosis? They surely have not 
“stamped out” the disease! 
Wing Hung On & Co. is the name of a Chinese firm 
in New York. If they have as much hustle and hang 
on as the name indicates, they deserve to succeed. 
“What can you farmers find to do in Winter?” We 
once asked that question while riding through northern 
Vermont. Here is the answer: “We have a town library 
of 10,000 volumes!” 
We hear of a man who sprayed potato vines with 
Bordeaux Mixture. The Potato stalk-borer killed many 
of the vines. Now the man says he always knew Bor¬ 
deaux Mixture would not prevent blight! 
It is reported that the First Regiment of N. Y. Vol¬ 
unteers at their State camp consumed 970 quarts of milk 
at one supper! That is a sort of can teen performance 
which the country can easily stand. By all means en¬ 
courage the milk can in the army. If we must have a 
standing army we can find a profitable job for the sol¬ 
diers in the wise assimilation of milk, cheese, apples 
and other products of the farms. 
The experts say that when new, damp hay is housed 
the barn should be tightly closed. Many farmers say 
that the doors should all be opened so as to let the 
air freely circulate. The objection to this is that the 
moisture, if to leave the hay at all, must do so by 
evaporation. In the hot barn this moisture will slowly 
make its way out. In the open barn the cooler air from 
outside will condense the moisture and send It back to 
the hay. 
