67o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
OCT. 4 
money. In the “Aunual Report” for 1889 we are informed 
that the entire bill for labor in all departments of the sta¬ 
tion was $7,487.98. Let us assume that one-third of this 
amount or $2,495.99 was paid for caring for animals—say, 
20 cows, 12 pigs, and 50 hens 1 For the salaries of those 
who had charge of the experiments with stock let us add 
$2,000. We have now $4,495.99. In other words these ani¬ 
mals ate$5,000 worth of food unless the “ etc.” is unusually 
large. In the same report we are informed that but $116 
were spent for live stock during the year ! 
‘‘Hearty Indorsement” With a Vengeance. 
3. The article when it first reached us contained the 
name of a well-known breeding firm, who were quoted as 
heartily indorsing the dairy test. Upon investigation, 
The R. N.-Y. finds that it is with this test as it is with 
the poultry experiments. Many breeders and several 
breeders’ associations did commend the plan of the test 
when it started. Do they now ? The organ of the Hol¬ 
stein Friesian breeders quotes The R. N.-Y.’a charges 
without a word of defence of the test. The firm men¬ 
tioned above, instead of hastening to defend the station, 
write us as follows: 
"We prefer that our names be not used in any way 
whatever in connection with the discussion regarding the 
Experiment Station at Geneva. We regret that we 
were unable to give the matter of dairy tests at that station 
personal attention, but our business engagements were 
such as to make it impossible for us to do so. Had we 
done so, and were we fully posted, so as to know the facts, 
we would then be prepared to take a decided stand, but as 
we cannot speak from personal knowledge we do not wish 
to have our names mentioned in any way whatever.” 
This is “ hearty indorsement ” with a vengeance 1 
The R. N.-Y. asserts that the station cannot get any re¬ 
sponsible breeder to “ heartily indorse ” this test, when 
the facts are published regarding the deaths and sickness 
among the animals, the changes in feeding and manage¬ 
ment, and the absurd blunders in the figures showing the 
"results” of the test. There is but one other breed test 
being made—that at the New Jersey Station. What non¬ 
sense then to call this “the most complete of any in the 
world.” 
A Blunderbuss Bulletin. 
But how about the records of this test. Statistics and 
figures are, we believe, the strong point of the station 
authorities. Bulletin 21, issued July 1890, gives the feed¬ 
ing statistics for six months. This is the bulletin referred 
to by the Farmers’ Review. We do not believe that any 
station in the country has ever issued a bulletin contain¬ 
ing more blunders and more complete evidence of edi¬ 
torial incapacity than this one. On page 256 of this 
bulletin we find the daily gain of the heifer Miss Flow. 
For the month of February, the figures are 212 pounds and 
a foot note has the single word, “loss.” Now a loss in 
weight of 212 pounds in one month is good for a heifer 1 
We presume she dropped a calf in this month, but search 
the bulletin through and there is found no record of the 
fact. As the figures stand, this heifer, eating during 
the month, 365 pounds of food and drinking 1,856 
pounds of water, lost 212 pounds. Was she sick ? Did 
she calve ? What was the trouble ? On page 239 we find 
a " complete description ” of the foods fed during the sea¬ 
son. For December, we are told that" oat-hay was fed at 
noon, maize silage morning and evening.” Not a word 
about the quality of the oat-hay, whether it was cut in 
the early stage of growth or when the kernel was well 
formed. Nothing to show whether oat-hay is considered 
good cow-food or not. Nothing is said about the quality 
of the silage, whether it was made from immature corn or 
corn with the grain glazed. No mention is made of the 
amount of acid in it; we do not believe it was ever con¬ 
sidered. It will probably surprise the station people to 
learn that these omitted points are the very things farmers 
want to know about. On page 274 is a star probably de¬ 
signed to call attention to some foot note, but the foot note 
is not printed. What is it for? On pages 242, 258, 262, 268 
and 270 there are stars after “ ash.” What do they mean? 
There is no explanation in the bulletin. According to 
these figures one cow ate over seven pounds of "ash” 
per day, another over five pounds, another nearly seven 
pounds and another nearly six pounds. Just remember 
that these “ ash elements” represent what is left of. food 
when it is completely burned. In order to obtain a pound 
of wood ashes we are obliged to burn a good-sized log. In 
the same way, in order to eat seven pounds of " ash ” a cow 
would be forced to eat, according to the analyses printed 
in this bulletin, 312 pounds of food daily, or, to be more 
exact, 37 pounds of oat-hay, 240 pounds of silage and 45 
pounds of grainl This means 113,880 pounds of food in a year! 
There are at least six other blunders in this one bulletin. 
Of what value are such figures ? Have we any reason to 
suppose that the figures representing the yields of milk 
and butter are any more reliable ? Now name your lead¬ 
ing breeder who,after examining this blunderbuss bulletin, 
will call the test, " the most complete in the world ! ” 
Answer This Mr. Dibble. 
4. Regarding the “ manure platform ” we would like to 
ask Mr. Dibble if he intends to build one on his own farm? 
He knows very well that his own barn-yard keeps his 
manure in perfect condition and is a better object-lesson 
than this platform, because it is practical and appeals 
directly to the average farmer. What we object to is the 
spending of $1,000 to prove what has been more forcibly 
shown at a cost of $15, and this while pleading poverty as 
a reason for losing valuable helpers. We want the figures 
proving that this " platform more than paid for itself the 
first year ! ” Not $25 worth of fertilizing matter came out 
of the cistern under it. It was found that this cistern 
leaked and that the analyses made of the water in it were 
valueless I 
5. Why do you not tell us, Mr. Dibble, what you learned 
at the station that will enable you to grow large crops of 
your staples ? Your people are successful farmers. Has 
anything that Dr. Collier has sent out from Geneva 
changed your practice or added to your success ? You 
have looked all over this station; what particular point 
did you learn there that you cannot learn at a fair oi at a 
first class farm ? 
Dodging Behind Mr. Barry’s Name. 
6. The statement about the fruit experiments is a typical 
one. The station authorities always try to get behind 
somebody else. It is the same with the poultry and the 
dairy test. By bringing in the honored name of Patrick 
Barry it is hoped that the reader will say: “Of course 
these experiments must be valuable, because Mr. Barry 
originated them.” While carefully avoiding any direct 
claim, Mr. Barry’s name is brought into the discussion in 
the hope that the public will Infer that he planned and 
supervised the experiments. Let us see about this. Here 
is a letter from one who is thoroughly respected by all 
who know him: 
“ The claim that the late Hon. Patrick Barry was re¬ 
sponsible for planning the work carried out by the horti¬ 
cultural department of the Geneva Experiment Station, is 
quite unwarrantable. Mr. Barry did, I think, on one, and 
possibly on two, occasions, by request of the Director (Dr. 
Sturtevant) suggest a list of fruits to be tested at the sta¬ 
tion. On another occasion, the firm of Ellwanger & 
Barry, in response to a circular sent to leading nursery¬ 
men, presented the station with a considerable list of 
fruits for trial. Further than this, Mr. Barry was not, to 
my knowledge, responsible for either the planning or exe¬ 
cution of the work done or undertaken by the horticul¬ 
tural department of the station up to April, 1889. Mr. 
Barry was, if I remember rightly, generally present at the 
meetings of the Board of Control, when his health per¬ 
mitted. E. S. GOFF.” 
Here is another note from one who has for years known 
the workings of the Geneva Station: “ Mr. Barry took a 
very intelligent interest In the work of the Geneva Station, 
and always spoke encouragingly of the horticultural 
work done there. But he was not at the station often, and 
never made a visit of more than a few hours in length. 
He never took the trouble to familiarize himself with the 
details of the experimental work, and never, to my knowl¬ 
edge, made any suggestions regarding new experiments, or 
the method of conducting those already under way. The 
experiments were all devised and carried out (I believe 
without exception) by the Director and his staff of assist¬ 
ants. Mr. Barry was a good friend to the station, and al¬ 
ways stood ready to assist the work which was done there 
in any way he was able, whenever called upon by those 
in charge of It. The claim that he planned or supervised 
any experiments whatever, is, so far as my knowledge ex¬ 
tends, without the slightest foundation. The present 
deplorable condition of the Geneva Station is greatly to 
be regretted.” 
Cheap Men and Cheap Bulletins. 
7. As to “cheap” men, the remarks made in the above 
article answer themselves. Do the members of the Board 
carry out this plan in their own business ? 
8. It is quite likely that the station has issued a good 
many pages of bulletins, if we include the “ Annual Re¬ 
port but sensible men do not judge such publications by 
their weight —old-paper dealers do that. In our judgment, 
two bulletins issued from Cornell, or Connecticut, or Wis¬ 
consin, or Michigan, or Ohio, or Texas have done more 
good than all the Geneva bulletins by the present Direc¬ 
tor put together, because they have dealt with timely and 
important topics, being illustrated, well printed, and free 
from absurd blunders. It is also probable that some good 
people are satisfied with the work of the Geneva Station. 
The Board of Control, for example, express themselves 
above as being fully satisfied. The great majority of 
farmers are not satisfied, however. In the above commu¬ 
nication the Board bases their case on the alleged opinions 
of recognized “authorities.” We have met them with their 
own authorities. What have they to say now ? Why not 
stop telling what they are going to do, and do something ? 
Apples for Cows. —My father and myself have fed 
apples to milch cows for many years, and have never, in 
our experience, seen any ill effects from the practice. I 
think that those who have had trouble must have fed in¬ 
judiciously—they must have given too many to begin 
with or something of the kind. Cooking seems to double 
the value of apples for food. Fitting them in this way 
causes a good deal of work, but I believe it pays. I have 
stored large quantities of apples when I have had them, to 
be used in the early winter like roots, and I have always 
considered them as valuable as the latter. I have also fat¬ 
tened a number of cattle on cooked apples, and found that 
they fattened easily, and made beef of the very best qual¬ 
ity. 1 have never fed skim-milk to cows, using it all for 
hens and chickens. I think that sweet skim-milk would 
be a good food for cows, but have my doubts about sour 
milk and whey. J. w. newton. 
Lamoille County, Yt. 
Womans Work. 
CHAMPIONING THE CHILDREN. 
A N interested contributor to this department sends us 
an article published by our sensible contemporary, 
the Youths’ Companion, from the pen of Dr. William 
Hammond, asking that we auote some of its best points. 
It touches a phase of woman’s work in connection with 
children, which is perhaps less often referred to than many 
others, or which is, at least, usually treated of in a dif¬ 
ferent light. His text (if we may call it so, for he is an M. 
L)., and not a Rev.) is “Cruelty to Peevish Children ” who 
may be made so by physical or mental irritation or strain 
hardly sufficient to be called pain, and which they cannot 
locate, exactly. Leaving entirely out of the question 
those most disagreeable young members of society who 
have been made a terror to the whole community through 
being in judiciously humored by weak, careless, or too in¬ 
dulgent parents, this wise physician enters a plea for the 
many others who are scolded and perhaps punished for 
petulance often directly traceable to the circumstances in 
which they are placed, and in which they are, as a matter 
of course, utterly helpless. 
In speaking of different causes which may induce an 
outwardly ill-tempered, and querulous state of mind and 
body, Dr. Hammond says : “ It is generally quite impos¬ 
sible for the child accurately to describe its sensations; 
and being intensely uncomfortable, it frets apparently 
without cause. Thus the child gets a reputation for dis- 
agreeableness which is quite undeserved. The only thing 
to be done under such circumstances is to take it for 
granted that something is the matter. All sources of 
irritation should be removed The little sufferer should 
be quieted by soothing words or some simple amuse¬ 
ments, and should be made to lie down.” 
Attention is directed to several sources of irritation. 
One of these is the fact that the nervous system 
of children is so very sensitive. The statement that 
“ slight circumstances cause mental or physical pain 
to a degree and for a length of time out of all proportion 
to the severity of the exciting cause,” will be quickly 
assented to by all who may have seen a very little child 
sob for half an hour or more after crying itself to sleep 
over some trifling hr.i't or light reproof. Pains in the head, 
many times due to injudicious mental stimulation ; pains 
in the stomach, often brought about by the foolish liber¬ 
ties which are allowed to young children with regard to 
diet, are mentioned as two chief exciting causes of irri¬ 
tability, the latter being even more common than the 
former. Indeed, it is a matter of astonishment that 
nearly all children are not peevish and fretful from this 
cause aloDe. Want of fresh air and exercise are also pre¬ 
disposing causes of petulance. We have only to look at 
our mental attitude and the outward expression which we 
give of it when tortured by headache, by “ cutting a wis¬ 
dom tooth,” or even “ a cold in the head,” or a slight 
eruption from excessive heat, in order to feel ashamed of 
berating the children for bad behavior under similar cir¬ 
cumstances. With regard to diet, the writer of the article 
referred to quotes his own experience to show that many 
a petulant child has been made uniformly sweet-tempered 
by giving it a sensible diet, excluding pies, nuts, raisins, 
candies and the like. If he had also mentioned tea and coffee, 
he would have kept strictly within the limits of facts. 
“Cambric tea” soon changes to “real tea, very weak,” 
with most indulgent mothers; the transition to strong 
tea is easy and natural, and the child of two years, or less, 
who is allowed the harmless “milk and hot water, 
sweetened,” at four is too frequently drinking strong tea 
and coffee “like big folks.” We know well a certain 
family, the four members of which are irritable and 
quarrelsome to the last degree, while yet unusually affec¬ 
tionate underneath it all. They are not noted for hav¬ 
ing naturally hot tempers, yet not 10 minutes of the day 
passes without bickerings among them. We believe the 
fundamental reason for this miserable state of affairs lies 
in the fact that all of them drink excessively strong tea and 
coffee, the one or the other at every meal! Keeping such 
facts as the above in mind, let us who have to do with 
little children see to it that they are not made fretful by 
our injudicious treatment, and then held responsible for 
our own lack of judgment or of thought or care. Too 
often we, not they, should take the inevitable punishment. 
£Ui£cclUmcou;$ gulvcvti^iiu). 
In writing to advertisers, please mention The R. N.-Y. 
Packer’s 
T ar Soap 
Is one of Nature’s Remedies, and 
the Ideal for Toilet and Bath. 
Composed of Vegetable Oils, 
Pine-Tar and Glycerine. 
Complexion. 
It is a luxury to use as well as perfectly 
pure, while many soaps are notoriously 
dangerous. 
Skin Diseases. 
It Is auatural halm, with recognized 
eurat lvo properties. 
N ursery. 
" No mother who has ever used It for her babies 
would willingly do .without It.” 
—Christine Terhune Herrick. 
Hair and Scalp. 
Used as a shampoo nothing can 
equal It, either as a remedy for 
Scalp Diseases, Dandruff and Baldness, or ns a delightful cleanser. 
25 Cents. All Druggists. 
2 9~ Sample (hJ cuke) 10 cents, stamps, If Tub K. N.-Y. Is mentioned. 
PACKER M’F’G CO., No. 100 Fulton Street, NEW-YORK. 
