1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
41 
inside of the veal market revealed. 
HOW TO KILL, DRESS AND SHIP CALVES. 
From now on for the next few months will be the 
height of the season for hog-dressed veal calves. 
Immense quantities come to this market, and some 
receivers make a specialty of them. In some of the 
stores, long rows of them may be seen hanging up 
by the heels—or, rather, by what remains of the hind 
legs, for they are all severed at the gambrel joints in 
a properly dressed calf. 
Hut there are others which are not thus exposed. 
Tne combination of dishonest dairyman, unprincipled 
dealer and soulless railroad, serves to maintain a 
trade in calves so small and unfit for food that they 
are not exposed to the light any more than possible, 
but are smuggled in like contraband goods. Some 
avaricious dealers make a business of this class of 
goods. The writer of this has seen piles of these 
calves in the dark back corners of commission houses, 
which, probably, wouldn't average more than 25 or, 
at most, 30 pounds in weight. In answer to the ques¬ 
tion as to what was done with them, an evasive shrug 
of the shoulders, and a suggestive allusion to “canned 
chicken,” or some similar dainty, was the only reply. 
Still the handling and sale of these calves is con¬ 
trary to law, and inspectors of the Board of Health 
are supposed to stop the trade. Yet every one that 
kuows anything at all about the New York City mar¬ 
kets, knows that thousands upon thousands of them 
are sold here every year. We have seen calves that 
had been sent here for sale, and which were sold, too, 
that weighed less than 20 pounds when hog-dressed. 
What is your opinion of a man who is so contempt¬ 
ibly, criminally mean as to send such stuff with the 
knowledge and expectation that it will be used as 
food by his fellow human beings? The worst feature 
of it is that this unwholesome, poisonous stuff is 
primed off on the innocent and the unsuspecting 
uuiier some disguise. It is to be hoped for the credit 
of honest farmers, reputable dealers, and the good of 
ciufiding consumers, that this disgusting and in¬ 
famous traffic will be stopped, and that quickly. 
But many good calves are sent to this market, meet 
a good demand, and form a welcome and wholesome 
addition to many a bill of fare. They should have 
some age, not less than three weeks, should be well 
fattened, dressed neatly and correctly, and shipped 
so that they will arrive in good condition. The 
breed makes little difference if the calf meet the re¬ 
quirements in other directions. Of course, Jerseys 
and the small breeds are sufficiently matured at a 
lighter weight than the heavier breeds ; the condition 
of the carcass shows this, a small, young calf being 
usually thin and poor. The best weight is from 90 
to 120 pounds when hog-dressed. Some dealers say 
that 80 pounds is none too light—provided the calf be 
in good condition. When the weight goes much be¬ 
yond 120 pounds, the meat is too coarse. A glance at 
the market quotations will show where these are 
classed, and the much lower prices obtained for them. 
To get these prices, however, they must be in good 
condition, and dressed in accordance with market de¬ 
mands. Only to-day, a fairly good calf was seen in 
the market, that had been skinned entirely, andsewed 
up in cloth. This calf sold, finally, for two cents per 
pound below the regular price. One buyer claimed 
that the skin would sell for 123^ cents per pound, and 
all claimed a greater reduction on account of the 
skin being off, than was really fair. Only occasion¬ 
ally can a buyer be found for such. * 
To dress a calf properly, cut the throat and hang it 
up so that it will bleed thoroughly; this has a great 
deal to do with the appearance of the meat. The en¬ 
trails should be removed, leaving in the kidneys. The 
latter are the first thing examined by a buyer; if well 
covered with fat, the calf is considered in good order. 
The carcass should be opened from about the region 
of the udder, about to the fore legs. Some open them 
clear down, but the point is to make them as attrac¬ 
tive looking as possible. The haslet is removed, and 
is generally shipped in a box separate from the calf, 
as the demand is usually good. Some put the haslet 
inside the calf, but while this may be allowable in 
cold weather and for short-distance shipments, it is a 
bad practice ; for it makes the carcass look mussy, 
and in case the weather is warm, it is more likely to 
sweat and spoil. The head should be removed, and 
the skin cut off back of the ears. The legs should be 
severed at the knee and gambrel joints, and only 
enough of the skin left to fasten nicely over the stumps 
to protect and keep them clean. A shrewd buyer will 
insist on having deductions made for all surplus skin 
—a liberal allowance, too. Many calves are received, 
having the entire skin of the head and legs left on ; 
this is useless, as it is unprofitable paying express 
charges on what must ultimately be a waste. 
The calf should be thoroughly cooled, a tag marked 
with the names of consignor and consignee firmly 
fastened on, and sent by express if the weather is at 
all warm, or the distance great. Freighting is risky 
business. The consignee should also be notified by 
mail. The best selling days are Tuesdays and Thurs¬ 
days—Wednesday being the next best. Except under 
certain unusual conditions, Friday, Saturday and 
Monday are bad market days. Above all, be careful 
to send only to reliable parties, for if a man be 
inclined to be dishonest, it is an easy matter to claim 
that a calf arrived in bad condition, and consequently 
sold for a low price. Still, reputable dealers do often 
receive those which are in bad condition, and such 
must sell for what they will bring, if, indeed, they 
are not seized by the Board of Health. 
SOME MONEY IN MASSACHUSETTS P0 TA TOES 
In The It. N.-Y. of December 28—page 858—Mr. 
Brewster of Plymouth County, Mass., showed how it 
cost him $138.60 to grow an acre of potatoes. He 
now sends us the following additional facts about 
his crop : 
If you have not tired of the potato-cost question, I 
would say that I do not run such an “awful risk” as 
you say on page 860. Drought has never injured my 
crop. Scab I know nothing of, other than that caused 
by wireworms, in land one or more years from sod ; 
they do not work on potatoes planted on sod, and my 
idea is that they feed on the grass roots until they are 
gone, and then go for the potato the next year. 
Blight has caused me much loss by shortening the 
growing season. I made up my mind years ago that 
the blight was caused by the vines being cooked by 
steam or damp heat arising from the soil. I have 
never seen blight occur except where the soil was 
saturated with water, and after two or three days 
scalding heat at a temperature of 95 degrees. After 
the leaves are cooked, they furnish nice lodgings for 
microbes, etc. Am I wrong to think microbes the 
result rather than the cause of disease in plants or 
animals ? Last season the blight stripped every leaf 
from three acres before August 1, except about 200 
feet of an outside row against which I turned a furrow 
of sod on the south side about July 1, and a few hills 
of Carman No. 1, on the south of which I placed 
boards (flat). The sod reached within 18 inches of 
the center of the drill. These were green and showed 
no sign of disease one month after. What does this 
signify to you ? 
I plant potatoes six inches deep on a Timothy-Red- 
top sod, and Mr. Currier’s 35-pound 17-foot harrow 
would be as useless as a feather duster in getting 
land in condition to furrow. A western man tells 
me that, with a 24-foot harrow drawn by six horses, 
he could harrow only 20 acres per day, working from 
daylight till dark with one hour for dinner. Mr. 
Chapman says, “ My help is mostly boys.” Massa¬ 
chusetts boys go to school, so I employ men at $1.50 
per day. I use 15 bushels of seed per aclre, which I 
cannot “ cut, drop and cover for 75 cents.” I doubt 
whether my crop uses more than 30 per cent of the 
fresh manure applied ; which, leaving out the hay 
question, would reduce the cost to 21% cents per 
bushel. The average price for the past four years has 
been 65 cents per bushel, at the time of digging, 
which leaves a profit of $133.33 per acre, which would 
cover quite a number of Western acres. 
I could not raise a croj> of wheat and clover, as you 
suggest, without a good coat of manure harrowed in, 
and I think that 1 might get acquainted with the scab, 
or are tubers free from it when raised on clover sod ? 
Do you know whether mulched potatoes blight ? 
I could comfortably house 1,000 hens at an outlay of 
about $300, giving four square feet per fowl. I have 
29 pullets in a $7 house, that have produced 12 dozen 
eggs in the last six days, and yesterday the thermom¬ 
eter stood at 16 degrees below zero. c. h. brewster. 
Plymouth County, Mass. 
R. N.-Y.—We shall have something to say about 
the scab and “ microbes ” in due time. The harrow 
described by Mr. Currier was not intended to prepare 
ground for planting, but to scratch over the field as 
the potatoes came up, and thus save the cost of early 
cultivation. So far as average profit goes, you make 
about the best showing yet, which is quite remark¬ 
able considering the immense cost. 
CHEAP POTATOES AND CHEAP POLITICS. 
After reading the discussion elicited by giving the 
cost of growing a crop of potatoes, and a challenge 
for criticism, I cannot but write a few thoughts that 
come to me, although not just in line with what has 
been said. It takes a great deal of nerve to stand and 
draw the attention and crossfire of the hustling 
readers of The R. N.-Y. Their agricultural condi¬ 
tions are so varied, that the search lights seem turned 
on from every possible direction. We also learn that 
it is these readers that grow the greatest and most 
paying crops, and also that those who most need to 
receive the benefits of these discussions, think that 
they cannot afford to take a farm paper, and so go on 
in the old way, never realizing tnat they are compet¬ 
ing in market with those who raised crops at one- 
fourth the cost. We are all trying to make money, 
and it seems useless for those in adverse locations, 
and under adverse influences, to raise crops at so great 
a disadvantage as a great many do. I believe that a 
great many would quit growing potatoes if they could 
compare their work with the successful growers, and 
many would change their methods. 
As we read of the immense crops that are being 
raised in the different parts of the greatest nation on 
earth, we realize that the science of production is, as 
yet, in its infancy, and that as knowledge increases, 
our possibilities are comparatively boundless. Then 
I stop and think of the great force that is being ex¬ 
erted—the brain power of the farmers and fruit 
growers of our land—all in one direction, every nerve 
being strained to its full tension to make the earth 
yield up her treasure at the least possible cost, and I 
wonder, What will be the result ? It seems to me 
time that we turned our attention more closely to 
some other branches of our calling before it is too late. 
What duties are we neglecting to gain a few more 
of these dollars (the value of which is unknown or at 
least uncertain at the present time) ? Are we look¬ 
ing after the best interests of the school system as 
closely as after the potato bugs ? Are we trying to 
economize in the finances of the township, as we do in 
the employment of help to reduce the cost of 10- 
cent potatoes ? When we have to pay all of the profits 
to the transportation companies and commission mer¬ 
chants, do we go home and grumble to our wives 
about trusts and monopolies, and not give one little 
thought as to whom we have left the legislation of 
this great and free country, and whether they have 
legislated to the interests of those they represent ? A 
few years ago, as I was coming to manhood, I was 
advised to inform myself in the politics of the day. 1 
made the reckless answer, “ Let the politicians take 
care of politics ; I have all I can do to make a living.” 
And most of the farmers around me seem virtually to 
have taken that stand, and we all find the latter part 
of that answer too true. I made a mistake in taking 
that position ; so have you. We as a people are hav¬ 
ing more than we can do to make an honest living for 
our families, without making ourselves veritable 
slaves, with no time for enlightenment or even neigh¬ 
borly conduct. Let us stop for a time and see whether 
we can think what the effect would be if this mighty 
force were directed along this line for a little time. 
Could we not make just as much ? Think it over. 
Ohio. H. W. GILBERT. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Ann you going to evaporate any maple sap this season ? If so, 
MeLaue & Schanck, Llnesville, Pa., will be able to interest you 
if you ask about their evaporators. 
S. M. Hahuis, Moreton Farm, N. Y., has a pamphlet containing 
results of careful experiments with different fertilizers, that he 
wishes to send free as a means of introducing his nitrate of soda. 
You can get it for the asking. 
□ We have just received a very pretty illustrated catalogue of farm 
implements, including mowers, reapers and disc harrows from 
the Johnston Harvester Co., Batavia, N. Y. If you want one, 
send a postal card and ask for it. 
Has your wife a washing machine? If not, why not? You 
should ask yourself this question every Monday morning when 
the rubbing begins. The Becker washer is one of the good ones. 
Write N. G. Baughman, York, Pa., for full particulars about it. 
It is claimed that the Lightning seed sower makes it possible to 
sow clover, Timothy and similar seeds on horseback, and at the 
rate of 50 to 80 acres a day. The manufacturers put up a pretty 
safe guarantee by returning the money paid for them if not satis¬ 
factory. Frangeu & Buss, Golden, Ill., are the makers. 
A uooD farm wagon is the source of about as much comfort as 
any other one implement on the farm, and when you are getting 
a new one, you may as well get a good one—the best, in fact. 
The Champion pivot-axle wagon is so constructed that the tongue 
can never whip the team. For this reason, it is called the 
“ Horses’ Friend.” We have them in use, and prize them very 
much. The Champion Wagon Co., Owego, N. Y., make them. 
The same company also make other wagons, grain drills and 
harrows. Anything this house make will be found first-class. 
In accordance witli present customs, there are few more tire¬ 
some jobs than transplanting by hand. Besides, the growth of 
the plant is usually retarded, and in dry times especially, water¬ 
ing is necessary, and this does not always save the life of the 
plant. Mr. F. Richards, Freeport, Long Island, N. Y., has 
labored with these discouragements, and has finally invented a 
set of tools for transplanting that seem to have lightened the 
labor and prevented the disturbance of plant growth in the pro¬ 
cess of transplanting. He will send illustrated descriptive cir¬ 
cular of his tools on application. 
A prominent fruit grower, on whose 20-acre farm we were not 
able to find a weed in the month of July, said that he killed weeds 
before they grew. He kept the ground fresh all the time. We 
can’t go into all the wisdom of the practice here ; but we wish to 
say that the custom is getting quite popular with all branches of 
farming. In order to use a harrow for this purpose on growing 
crops, it is desirable that it be easily and quickly adjusted so 
that the teeth may be slanted as desired to slip over the growing 
plant. This is effected in the Lean harrow made by Roderick 
Lean & Co., 64 Park Street, Mansfield, O. 
Probably no other manufacturer in the country has done so 
much to supply the people with a good, serviceable shoe at a low 
cost as W. L. Douglas. His years of experience and immense 
factory, with all the advantages of improved machinery and 
wholesale buying of material, together with the division of labor 
that can be applied in a large factory, enable him to make a shoe 
for $3 that no small manufacturer can approach in price, style or 
quality. The shoes may be procured of almost any retail dealer ; 
but the dealer may have only one or two styles. To get an idea 
of the product of this factory, send for the new illustrated cata 
logue, to W. L. Douglas, Box M, Brockton, Mass. 
