548 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
AUG. 23 
IT H E 
Rural New-Yorker, 
TIMES BUILDING, NEW YORK. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
ELBERT S. CARMAN, 
HERBERT W. COLLINGWOOD, 
| EDITORS. 
Rural Publishing Company: 
LAWSON VALENTINE, Preiidsnt. 
EDGAR H. LIBBY, Manager. 
RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
THE AMERICAN GARDEN, 
OUT-DOOR BOOKS. 
Copyright, 1890, by the Rural Publishing Company 
SATURDAY, AUGUST 33, 1890. 
If you do not look out for Number 1 there 
will be no Number 1 to look out for. “ Num¬ 
ber 1 ” is but another name for your own in¬ 
terests. 
Corn In the silo, 
Clover In the mow, 
And grain running over the bln. 
Pleasant the prospect 
Kor the faithful cow ; 
She longs for winter to begin. 
Good taste for reading, 
Well developed brains, 
Life shows an honest, spotless page. 
Faith In the future, 
Honest share of gains. 
Who fears a quiet, peaceful age ? 
Our readers will be interested in the fact that we 
have succeeded in crossing both the blackberry and 
the rose upon Rubus phoenicolasius. This may 
well be called, in familiar language, either the 
Mossberry, Ruby berry, or VYineberry. 
Our first Paragon Chestnut tree, planted in May, 
1888, is now bearing six large burrs, five or six 
having been picked off after they bad fairly set. 
The head of this little tree is scarcely two feet in 
diameter. The main stem is about seven feet high, 
having been grafted on a stock four feet high. The 
cion and stock have not made a perfect union. 
As between Barr’s Mammoth. Dreer’s Eclipse, 
Moore’s Crossbred, Smalley’s Defiance and Palmetto 
Asparagus, we are not prepared to note any marked 
difference. The plot was set three years ago. As¬ 
paragus is asparagus in so far as The R. N.-Y. 
knows anything about the question, and we have 
studied the so-called varieties as well from seedlings 
as from roots. 
A new egg case exhibited at an English fair is 
praised because it can be kicked about the room 
without injuring the eggs. Why is this an advan¬ 
tage ? Eggs are not made to be kicked about. A 
good deal of the money spent in preparing a case 
that will render such kicking safe is wasted. If one 
is to kick eggs one must pay for the fun of doing so. 
In this instance you pay in the extra price that must 
be paid for the egg case. Handle the eggs as they 
ought to be handled and cheaper packages will an¬ 
swer. This is a good illustration of the labor and 
money we throw away in carrying out useless 
methods and plans. 
The farmers of South Carolina seem to have 
carried their campaign to the point of breaking the 
Democratic party. At the convention held yester¬ 
day the anti-Tillman delegates left the hall in a 
body when they found that the majority were de¬ 
termined to carry out their plans. Now let us see 
what the result will be. As a matter of experi¬ 
ment, it is not such a bad thing that this break has 
occurred in South Carolina. We shall see whether 
the farmers’ rule does really mean ruin. None of 
us believe such nonsense, but the actual demonstra¬ 
tion of its falsity will have a good effect. There 
are a number of States where farmers will never 
receive their just rights until they break off from 
other parties on State issues and look out for their 
own interests. The sooner this fact is recognized 
the less energy will be wasted in trying to “in¬ 
fluence existing parties.” 
In response to The R. N.-Y’s request for an 
opinion regarding the possibility of carrying out the 
plan of Grange dealing with Grange, as outlined in 
previous issues, Col. J. H. Brigham, Master of the 
National Grange, writes as follows : “ Grain has 
never been shipped in the way you suggest, but I 
do not see why it may not be done. We are in¬ 
vestigating the matter to see if it is practicable. ” Such 
investigations ought to be made at once. If the plan 
can be carried out, the sooner it is started the better. 
If it is not practicable, let us know it. Here, let us 
say, we have a Grange in Massachusetts, the mem¬ 
bers of which want to buy corn and feed. Here we 
have another Grange in Kansas or k Iowa, the mem¬ 
bers of which have corn and feed to sell; one set of 
people complain because feed is too high; the other 
set complain because they cannot sell their pro¬ 
duce for living prices. Both place the blame upon 
the convenient “middleman.” Now, suppose the 
two Granges deal directly with each other ? In 
theory, at least, the “middleman” is eliminated 
and both Granges save money. This is the theory; 
what we want to know is how far is this theory 
based on practical possibilities. There are difficul¬ 
ties in the way, which we shall state in due season. 
The great trouble is that both sides are anxious to 
make too much out of the trade. An inclination 
to be willing to submit to a fair compromise is the 
first requisite for success in this Grange dealing, as, 
in fact, it is in any business dealing. 
During the recent strike on the New York Cen¬ 
tral Railroad, the strikers did not dare to interfere 
with the mail trains which carry no passengers. It 
will be noticed that there is a very general desire to 
get out of the way of rolling stock that is controlled 
by the National Government. People have a great 
respect for the United States flag. These facts are 
strongly urged by those who advocate a govern¬ 
mental control of railroads. If the strikers would 
not dare to touch a government mail train, they 
would not dare to touch a government passenger or 
freight train. A strike could hardly be possible on 
a railroad run by the government; while it is al¬ 
ways possible on a railroad run by a private corpor¬ 
ation. These arguments are advanced by the 
friends of government control of railroads. They 
are sound, as is the argument that if the govern¬ 
ment can handle letters it can also handle passen¬ 
gers and freight. In spite of all that may be said 
against such “ paternalism ” on the part of the gen¬ 
eral government, it is an undeniable fact that the 
present tendency of the age is toward it. 
“The slow poisoning process ” is what Assistant 
Dairy Commissioner Van Valkenberg calls the mix¬ 
ing of “preservatives” like borax and salicylic acid 
with milk. A great deal of this disreputable busi¬ 
ness is being done just now, and before the matter 
is over somebody will get into serious trouble. Ice 
is almost an unknown quantity this year. Makers 
of patent “ preservative ” compounds go to farmers 
ana dealers and assure them that these chemicals 
are pure and harmless and will keep their milk 
sweet from three to six days. Very likely they 
will keep the milk sweet, but they contain sub¬ 
stances that nations like France and Germany ex¬ 
clude by statute from beer. When the stomach of 
a big German has to call the law to its aid, it is 
evident that the American infant is in need of a de¬ 
fender. The R. N.-Y. is very glad to learn that 
both the State Dairy Commission and the City 
Board of Health are determined to put a stop to 
this business of drugging milk. We hope that the 
makers and the users of these drugs will be pun¬ 
ished to the fullest extent of the law. 
The farmers of Ohio have organized a political 
movement that is unique. While they have used 
the machinery of the Alliance, the Grange and 
other perfected organizations to arouse interest,they 
propose to work on independent lines and to influ¬ 
ence national and State legislation in every possible 
legitimate way. The following declaration of prin¬ 
ciples taken from the resolutions adopted at the re¬ 
cent meeting in Columbus will show what they are 
after: 
“We are in favor of equal taxation upon all forms of 
property; the redaction of railroad passenger rates to two 
cents a mile; government control of railroads and telegraph 
lines as to rates and charges; unlimited coinage of silver 
and making it legal tender for all debts, public and private: 
the election of United States Senators by popular vote; for¬ 
feiture of all unearned land grants; taxes direct and in¬ 
direct, as low as consistent with the economical adminis¬ 
tration of good government; the protection of pure food 
products from the ruinous competition of adulterated 
products; the passage of a law nullifying the effect of the 
“Original Package decision a graded income tax for 
corporations and individuals; the Butterworth bill pre¬ 
venting gambling in farm products, the Rawlings bill, tax¬ 
ing finished manufactured products; the Australian ballot 
system; school books at cost; restriction of fees and salaries 
of public officers; the election of the Dairy and Food Com¬ 
missioners by popular vote. We oppose first, alien non¬ 
resident ownership of land; second, the granting of passes 
to public officials.” 
Strong efforts were made to induce the convention 
to take a decided stand on the temperance question 
as well as to force some expression of opinion on 
the tariff; hut the majority refused to be com¬ 
mitted on these points. The convention also re¬ 
fused to invite State officials or candidates to ad¬ 
dress them. These Ohio farmers propose, first, to 
try to influence existing parties. They will do all 
in their power to nominate and elect men who will 
support legislation in the interests of farmers. If 
this policy is not successful they will simply break 
away from the old parties and organize a party of 
their own. There is an air of business about this 
movement that will command attention. These 
men know what they want, and will go about the 
work of securing it in a dignified and forcible 
manner. They will get it in the end, too. 
Last Friday evening the Knights of Labor made 
an unavailing effort to control the management of 
one of the strongest railroad corporations in this 
country, the N. Y. C. & H. R. R. R. The company, 
on account of the dull season, saw fit to discharge 
some of its employes, and did just what any sen¬ 
sible man should have done, got rid of those it con¬ 
sidered least valuable. Some of these happened to 
be Knights, some of them holding high positions in 
the order. A demand from a high official of the 
Knights, himself not an employe of the railroad 
company, for an explanation of the company’s 
action, was very properly ignored, though the lat¬ 
ter’s officers expressed willingness to listen to griev¬ 
ances from its own men, either individually or 
through committees. The company refused to 
arbitrate the matter because there was nothing to 
arbitrate; it had simply dismissed from its service 
men it did not want. The strikers did not receive 
the sympathy and Support they expected, and, while 
they caused the company a heavy loss and the 
traveling public as well as shippers great incon¬ 
venience, they have not gained a single point for 
which they were contending. The Knights even went 
so far as to threaten to tie up every railroad center¬ 
ing in this city if their demands were not acceded 
to. There is entirely too much sentiment and sym¬ 
pathy wasted upon strikers. Sometimes they have 
just cause for complaint, and are justified in refus¬ 
ing to work ; but what moral or legal right have 
those who refuse to work to say that others shall 
not work ? There probably is not a day in the year 
but a strike of some kind is in progress in this city. 
Not long since the whole building business was 
brought almost to a standstill because one contractor 
was using bricks manufactured by a man who em¬ 
ployed a few non-union men. A contractor in Brook¬ 
lyn was liable to forfeit quite a large sum of money 
if a large block of buildings was not completed by a 
certain time. He offered his men an increase of pay 
if they would work overtime. They were willing, 
the proposed remuneration was acceptable, but the 
labor organization to which the men Delonged step¬ 
ped in and said the men must not work overtime, 
and, furthermore, that if the contractor employed 
other men to work after hours his whole force 
would be called off; this was afterward done, and 
the contractor was forced to succumb. Yet, we 
call this a free country ! These are but speci¬ 
mens of what every labor organization in the 
country will do if it has the opportunity. Men have 
been assaulted, maimed and even killed in this city 
for persisting in working to keep their families 
from starvation, their only crime being that they 
were giving honest work for honest pay to a man 
for whom their assailants refused to work. Asso¬ 
ciation of any class for right purposes is commend¬ 
able ; but such excesses as are committed under the 
guise of combination for protection must inevitably 
re-act upon the perpetrators. 
BREVITIES. 
I pity those unfortunates who go about the world, 
Just filling people up with dismal croaks 
About tholr own misfortunes, when they ought to laugh and shout. 
That they’re so much better off than other folks. 
And those poor Individuals, who mope and groan about, 
Because they miss their proper share of “ luck.” 
They might have sense enough to stop their howling for awhile, 
And manufacture Just a little pluok. 
Look uv! 
“ That district school of yours !” 
Who makes the speech at your fair this year ? 
Salt down the dollar and thus slip debt’s collar. 
Use the potato diggers for nigging turnips and carrots. 
A bad job and a hot poker are alike—they should be 
dropped. 
Have your folks made an application for a farmers’ 
institute. 
Discharge yourself and hire yourself over again uow 
and then. 
What is the use for a sheep man to grow Timothy hay 
for feeding ? 
Sit back in the harness when you feel yourself going 
beyond your depth. 
Corn buyers are trying to hunt up corn sellers this year. 
In former years this state of things was reversed. 
Perfect drainage and a possible sub-irrigation of the 
silo are the basis of M. Colcord’s system of patent ensilage. 
Are we compelled to lie in our own bed after we have 
made it t Why not at least try to make it more comfort¬ 
able t 
The farmers seem to be running the politicians through 
a potato sorter. Let us hope the “ small potatoes” will 
fall out. 
Of course, you realize that the more you shout “Farmin’ 
don’t pay 1” the more you injure the prospects of your own 
business. 
Buy calves, you Eastern farmers who have too much 
hay. These calves will press your hay and store it for a 
rise in price. 
If The R. N.-Y. may estimate the grape crop of New 
Jersey by the crop of Its own vineyard, it will be not far 
from a failure. 
Is there any reason why a Grange in Michigan should 
not do business with a Grange in Maine, and thus save the 
middleman’s share ? 
PEACHES are so scarce in Delaware that the young man 
with the fast horse is left behind by the young man who 
caD bring the young ladies a peach. 
How about salt in the silo, you experiment station 
people ? Will it help the silage ? Lots of people want to 
know about this. They can’t afford to run any risks with 
their whole product. Try it and let us kuow the result. 
OUR little grove of hybrid Castor-oil plants is beautiful 
at this time. The leaves vary in color from every shade of 
green to a deep, metallic, purple bronze. The stems vary 
in color as do the leaves. We are not aware that any 
great pains have been given to the improvement of the 
Ricinus. 
We find that the bush Sieva bean sometimes grows to 
vine the same as is the case with both the Kumerle and 
Burpee Bush Limas. But the per cent, of bushes that run 
to vine more or less, is so small as to make no practical 
difference. The vine propensity will no doubt disappear 
entirely with careful selection for two or three years. 
The R. N.-Y. is collecting information from chemists, 
brewers, farmers, grain experts and others as to the rela¬ 
tive quality of American and Canadian barley. It is 
claimed, as we all know, that American barley cannot 
compete with that grown in Canada, consequently the 
McKinley bill will be of no benefit to American growers. 
The facts gathered will surprise our readers. 
And there is not as yet a beetle or grub to be found upou 
our asparagus plots. Remember, readers, the remedy 
against this asparagus insect pest. After the last cutting, 
go over the plants about three times, say every 10 days for 
a month. The long, black, slender eggs are plainly visible. 
Rub them off by clasping the shoot in the hand and, with 
an even pressure, raising it from the bottom of the shoot 
to the top. The work is easily and rapidly done. 
