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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Business. 
PRICES FOR PIANOS. 
LIST PRICE VS. CASH PRICE. 
“ B.” Wauconda, III. —A case here prompts me to ask 
whether Mr. Terry really got that piano for the bottom 
wholesale price. A neighbor of mine wishing to buy a 
piano, engaged a friend thoroughly posted in the business, 
to aid him in selecting and purchasing an instrument, and 
through him he bought, for an even $300, a piano the retail 
price of which was $550. Verily, the middleman ought to 
prosper! 
REM ARK 8 BY T. B. TERRY. 
How does B. know that the retail price of the instrument 
mentioned was $550 ? I have not been able to learn that 
there is any such thing as a retail price, except as the 
middleman makes it to suit the occasion. No prices are 
put in the catalogues sent out, at least not in those I have 
received. In them there is what is called a “list price,” 
and from this the agent discounts as he pleases. Now if 
this statement is not correct, let anybody dispute it. I 
have inquired in different, cities as to the price of the 
same instrument, and found that the price varied. If $550 
was the list price, then B.’s neighbor paid some middleman 
a tremendous profit. Agents have usually given me prices 
ranging from 40 to 50 per cent, off the list price. I bought 
an $850 piano. The best price offered in any city agent’s 
office was 50 per cent, off, or $425. This offer was made 
beyond that agent’s legitimate territory. The manufac¬ 
turers gave me 50 and 25 off; or $318.75 cash down bought 
the $850 (list-price) piano. Another leading firm came 
within $6 of these figures, ou a similar instrument. Of 
course, I do not know whether an agent could have done 
better ; but I do know that I saved $106.25 by avoiding the 
agent. It is well for farmers and others to know about 
this list-price and the discounts from it. This manner of 
selling is calculated to give the agent a chance to make 
any profit that the customer will stand. A farmer in this 
county bought a $1,000 piano through a “ friend who was 
thoroughly posted,” etc. He bragged to me how his 
friend, who was in the business, had saved him $500, as he 
had got the piano for half price. He put on a good many 
airs, and evidently valued that friend pretty highly. The 
manufacturers probably got about $350 for the instrument, 
for the higher the price the greater the discount. Some 
one bought that piano for about 50 and 30 per cent. off. 
If the farmer had had the cash and the snap he could have 
done it. I am not writing on my own experience alone. 
I know what others have done by dealing directly with the 
manufacturers. 
I would like to say, farther, a word in regard to trust¬ 
ing the manufacturers to send the purchaser a good in¬ 
strument. I sent the money in advance to an old-estab¬ 
lished firm of the highest reputation. They sent me a more 
finely-finished instrument than the picture in the catalogue 
called for, and the tone is superb. I wrote them, thank¬ 
ing them for ti’eating me so nicely, and they replied : “ If 
more people would send to a reliable manufacturer instead 
of buying of some music teacher or agent, who oftentimes 
cares only about selling the piano on which he can make 
the most, it would be far better for them. We try to make 
all instruments exactly alike; but there is a difference. 
Who will be likely to get the inferior ones ?” Look out 
for the music teacher or agent who “assists” you to get an 
instrument. You do not need his services as much as he 
wants from $100 to $200 of your money. The Rural 
touched the key-note of the trouble with many farmers 
when, in a late issue, it advised some one to get some cash 
ahead and buy at wholesale. Ah ! the lack of cash ahead 
is one great trouble ; then comes the lack of a little better 
business habits. For want of these we must pay for most 
things we buy 25 per cent, more than we need to. Are you poor 
and hard up ; in debt paying for a farm ? Well, wouldn’t 
it be cheaper to borrow cash at six or eight per cent, rather 
than get trusted at 25 per cent. T The poorer you are the 
more you need to buy for cash. The longer you go on pay¬ 
ing some one 15 or 18 per cent, for doing a little easy work 
for you the poorer you will get, perhaps. I speak from ex¬ 
perience. I have been as hard up as any of you ; but still 
I have nearly always done business on a cash-down basis. 
1 have kept a bank account and paid cash for years when 
I was paying interest. Paying cash helped me to get rid 
of the necessity for paying interest. Why, farmers, if 
responsible you have to pay some time, anyway, and what 
is the use of being a year or so behind all the time and 
paying so dearly for it ? “Spunk up,” sell a horse, mort 
gage your cows, catch up, get ahead a little, and then keep 
so. You need not spend any more. And the saving from 
buying for cash can soon be made to buy the horse back ; 
take the mortgage off the cows, and eventually help you 
considerably. Did you ever notice a man and his wife 
(some time after their marriage) going along the street, 
she just so far behind him all the time ? Now, would she 
walk any farther if she kept by his side, after she had 
once got up ? Certainly not, you say. Neither would 
you have to pay any more if you paid cash right up 
promptly. (Indeed you would not have to pay so much). 
Make a desperate effort and pay up, and then keep up. If you 
can’t do it in a day or a year, work towards it and stick, put 
on more steam, pull, push—any thing only do “get there.” 
MORE ABOUT BALED MANURE. 
The information given in these columns two weeks ago 
has created a good deal of discussion among farmers and 
stablemen. Manure baling is decidedly an “ infant in¬ 
dustry.” New York seems to lead in the matter, though 
not one per cent, of the manure made in this city is baled. 
As regards other cities, our correspondent in Providence, 
R. I., writes as follows : 
“ Manure is not baled in Providence, but is sold directly 
to the farmers, who call at the stables and take it away. 
The average price is $4 per cord. It is usually taken away 
at least twice a week.” 
Wilmer Atkinson, of Philadelphia, writes: “I do not 
think that any of the Philadelphia stables bale manure. I 
have bought a great deal of different ones, but have never 
heard that any of it was baled. It would be a great thing 
for the inland farmer in saving freight if this could be 
practiced, and there seems to be no good reason why it 
should not be done.” 
In Chicago, about the only place where manure is baled, 
is at the Palmer House stables, where the practice has 
been followed for a year or more. At these stables an or¬ 
dinary hay press is used, and the manure is baled as fast 
as it is gathered. We shall have more to say about this 
later. 
Our Boston correspondent sends this report: 
“Baled manure as a merchantable commodity is foreign 
to this locality. Our near-by farmers are all provided with 
teams, and contract to keep the large stables clean. Every 
year the price paid for city manure is on the decline, owing 
to the more extensive use of artificial fertilizers. One 
concern makes a practice of buying and storing stable 
manure in summer and fall when it is abundant, and sell¬ 
ing it to remote farmers during the winter and spring 
months, by shipping it on platform cars. This concern 
gets its dung for almost nothing during the months 
named. It charges $4 per cord, loaded on the cars. Many 
of our city stables do not dry their bedding, and the 
manure is quite strawy, and would hardly be accepted by 
our remote farmers unless it was pretty well rotted. If 
baled at all, it should be while in this state. It would 
then be in such a condition that by pressing, all air would 
be expelled, and oxidation would thus be prevented. So, 
far as oxidation is concerned, it would be in a condition 
like the pressed contents of our silos. Our near-by farm¬ 
ers pay $2 to $4 per year for the freshly-dropped manure 
from one horse. A horse’s droppings are supposed to 
average from two to three cords per year.” 
Mr. Henry Stewart who is usually very accurate about 
such matters, has this to say about it:—(the R. N.-Y. has 
written the Commissioner of Patents to learn the facts in 
the matter.) 
“ The process of putting up manure in bales for transpor¬ 
tation is not a new thing. The Invention—as it is called— 
was patented several years ago, and I believe the patent has 
not expired. Being thus a “ protected industry,” it stands 
on such a footing as somewhat to embarrass any special 
notice. But as to its merits, something might be said 
without trespassing upon the rights of any person. I 
A Chinese Seed Planter. Fig. 14-0. 
have seen the process and the product. The special claims 
made for it are, that it makes transportation easy and 
cheap ; that the manure is preserved from destructive de¬ 
composition and may be stored in piles out-of-doors with¬ 
out injury or offense, and that it permits the easy and in¬ 
offensive removal of manure from city stables to distant 
farms. All these advantages are justly allowable. But 
there are some disadvantages, which, however, apply to it 
only as a patented article. The cost is too great for the 
profitable use of it on farms. The price I believe is or was 
$5 per ton delivered f. o. b. The manure cost $7 on the 
farms on the Connecticut River, hence it is available only 
close to cities and large towns. But city manure anyhow 
can be thus used only on near-by farms and for market- 
gardens, where it is indispensable and affords a sufficient 
profit to make it available, so that the larger cost of it is 
not an insuperable objection in such cases. But it is clearly 
not applicable to ordinary farming.” 
Dairyman’s Account Book.— Wells, Richardson & 
Companv of Burlington, Vermont, send free to those who 
desire it and send a stamp, an excellent little book for 
keeping dairy accounts. The pages are ruled for daily 
records of milk, butter made, sales of milk, etc., for 12 
months. It is a good account book—what dairymen who 
are working for business need. 
Marketing Peas and Corn.— The following remarks 
from the California Fruit-Grower will be indorsed by 
careful market gardeners who are anxious to succeed in 
their business. “ Peas are a universally-liked vegetable, 
and when seen by the intending purchaser should present 
such a fresh, crisp, tidy appearance as to awaken a desire 
for them and a pleasant line of thought, which is sure to 
culminate in a purchase. Much of the sweet corn which 
is sent to market for sale is fit for nothing except it be to 
feed the cows and pigs. Every stunted or imperfect 
ear should be thrown out, and, by slightly opening each 
husk, if it is seen that the grains are not well filled, the 
ears should certainly be devoted to some better purpose 
than trying to force them upon human beings for food, 
thus ipjuring the market by destroying the taste and ap¬ 
petite for really good sweet corn. When sweet corn is to 
be kept over night, either before or after being sent to 
market, it should not be so tightly packed in barrels or 
large heaps as to cause heat. It is much better to arrange 
it in such a way as to admit of a circulation of air to each 
ear. Sweet corn, when in season, is oftentimes found on 
our vegetable stands carelessly thrown in heaps of various 
sizes, no effort at all being made to display it in an at¬ 
tractive form, so that a desire may be awakened for it. 
From a commercial standpoint it does seem that those 
who are handling vegetables should make a study of the 
best and most attractive ways of displaying them ; but 
the idea seems to be to get all the money that the public 
are willing to put up, without any regard to the educat¬ 
ing of a public taste and desire for clean and healthful 
vegetables.” 
IMPLEMENT NOTES. 
Weeding Macadamized Roads.—Is there such a thing 
as a weeding machine that will effectually take the weeds 
from macadamized roads ? We have here about six miles 
of such roads (30 feet wide) to take care of. We have so 
far done the weeding by hand, by hiring a lot of boys, 
with extra heavy hand-hoes ; but this method is slow and 
expensive and the work is not done very satisfactorily at 
best. How would repeated applications of salt water work? 
Rock Island, Ill. . w. o. 
R. N.-Y.—We can only suggest that a road machine run 
lightly over the roads would tear out most of the weeds 
without injuring the road. Breed’s weeder might also be 
used, though this would probably make the roads rough. 
We should think that strong brine would kill the weeds if 
repeatedly applied. It is evident that the road is little 
used or the wagon wheels and horse hoofs would keep the 
weeds down. We shall be very glad to hear from any of 
our friends who have had any experience with similar 
roads. The English papers advertise “Weed Killers” 
which are said to be diluted sulphuric acid. These kill 
the weeds on walks and short drives, but may be too ex¬ 
pensive for such a road as that here mentioned. 
Chinese Seed Planter. —The picture shown at Figure 
140 is taken from an old book published in 1808. The 
“ planter ” is simply a box for holding the grain, mounted 
on a rame of bamboo, the lower ends of which are pro¬ 
vided with two small plow-shares. There are two holes in 
the rear part of the box through which the grain passes 
into the hollow bamboo rods forming the back of the 
frame-work, which conduct it to the furrows made by the 
plow-shares. This arrangement is dragged over the 
ground by two meu, as shown in the picture. It seems 
evident, says Popular Science News, that the Chinese an¬ 
ticipated some of our supposed inventions in agriculture 
as well as in the use of gunpowder, the mariner’s compass 
and the use of movable types in printing. While the 
Chinese invented, they could not perfect their inventions 
beyond a certain point, at which they became permanently 
arrested, while the Western nations, continuing on, left 
the Celestials far behind. 
Stone Crushers in Road Building.—A good deal has 
been said about the success of citizens of the town of 
Sweden, N. Y., in repairing its roads. It seems that the 
town bought a stone-crusher and hired men by the day to 
run it. The crusher is placed near stone which is donated. 
The town pays for hauling the stone to the crusher and 
for crushing it; while the farmers “ work out their taxes ” 
in hauling the crushed stone to the roads and laying it. In 
the last three years nearly 20 miles of excellent roads have 
been made in this town. The statements that have 
been printed regarding the success of this enterprise have 
naturally caused farmers to ask many questions. Here is 
a sample letter from a subscriber in Maine: “ What is the 
cost of a stone-crusher ? What is the power needed to 
work it ? How much stone will it prepare in a day, and 
how many men are required ? There is a considerable 
length of clay roads in this part of the State and good 
gravel is scarce, and it may be that crushed stone would 
be nearly as cheap and a good deal better. Will a thick 
layer of crushed stone on the clay make a good road, or 
will it be necessary to dig away or prepare the road for 
macadamizing ? This would seem too much of a tax for 
most country districts.” 
To these questions we may briefly reply that most of 
these crushers were designed for breaking up ore or stone 
for railroad work. The stone for road-making should be 
broken like that chipped off by a hammer. When it is 
put through a machine that is designed to smash it as fine 
as possible, it is shattered so that it will crumble quickly. 
A machine that is in quite general use is made in Pitts¬ 
burgh. Its price varies from $190 to $1,000 with liberal 
discounts according to weight and size. The smallest- 
sized machine weighs 1,S00 pounds, requires a floor space 
of 4% x feet and will crush 10 tons of stone in a day. 
The largest size weighs 17,000 pounds, requires a floor 
space of 11 x 7}£ feet, and will produce 125 tons per day. 
Of course, the small machine will handle only smaller 
stones and pieces of reck. It is claimed that a two-horse 
power engine or tread-power will work it. It is run by 
means of a belt and pullev. Besides the engineer, men 
enough are required to handle the stones. The roads in 
Sweden, N. Y., are clay, and before the stone was used 
were almost impassable. On most of them the stone was 
used in about the same way as gravel, in a layer from six 
to 12 inches thick all over the road, which was first 
smoothed with a road machine. Where the road-bed was 
not firm and where the soil was loose, a foundation of 
cobblestones a foot deep was laid before applying the 
broken stone. The R. N.-Y. believes that unless the larger 
stones are packed solidly in place and stamped down se¬ 
curely, the frosts and thawings of two seasons will render 
the road worse than ever before. The large, loose stones 
will work to the surface, as the frost throws them out, 
and smaller stones work under them. On nine-tenths of 
our country roads a thick layer of broken stone will work 
wonders. 
Triumph Spading Harrow.— This seems to be an age of 
shallow tillage tools. The desire seems to be to produce a 
