THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February!22 
> a 
122 
THE 
The Rural New=Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Established 1850. 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-in-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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able THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1896. 
Is it Langford or Lanfcford apple ? A number of 
people have asked that question. LI. E. Van Deman 
says the apple originated in Kent County, Md., near 
a town called Lankford—taking its name from the 
village. Let us spell it with a k then—though it is 
doubtful if the variety will be largely planted. 
0 
Another word about seed potatoes. There never 
was a better time to obtain seed of new and improved 
varieties at a low price. Don’t think that the present 
low prices will set the standard for the next 10 years. 
The chances are that it will be 15 years before we 
again have the combination of circumstances that 
have made potatoes so low this year. As prices for 
market potatoes rise, prices for seed will rise with 
them. This season, therefore, is the time to stock up 
with new and vigorous seed. 
0 
At this season of the year, we often have many 
questions about the best way to utilize bones for a 
fertilizer. On page 114 we are told how a Massachu¬ 
setts man does the business. This method requires a 
somewhat expensive outfit of steam tank and boiler, 
though on many farms, the engine and boiler are 
already to be found. A number of farmers might 
combine and secure such an outfit, and thus save con¬ 
siderable money in buying bone meal. This steamed 
bone will make a good fertilizer when used with 
muriate of potash. A small quantity of nitrate of 
soda may be used with it if desired. It is not neces¬ 
sary to use acid on such bone. 
Last week, The R. N.-Y. pictured an old log build¬ 
ing that is still standing in New York State. This 
week, as a contrast, we give a picture of a building in 
the Virginia mountains. These buildings are of just 
about the same age, and they well illustrate the 
different plans adopted by the old-time pioneers. To 
carve a home out of the forest in New York State, 
was a very different thing from locating a farm in 
Virginia. Climate, soil and conditions were all dif¬ 
ferent, and the house that could have been made com¬ 
fortable in Virginia, would have proved only a freez¬ 
ing box in New York. Both these old buildings are 
typical specimens of the architecture of pioneer days. 
They served a useful purpose, and we are glad to see 
them kept to remind the younger generation of what 
their ancestors did a century ago. 
G 
During the past few years, The R. N.-Y. has had 
considerable to say about cheap lands in the rainless 
districts of the West. Thousands of poor people were 
induced to leave homes in other parts of the country 
and buy farms in portions of the West where irriga¬ 
tion is impossible, and where there is sufficient rain¬ 
fall to mature a crop not oftener than once in seven 
years. These people starved along on this desert 
until, dried out and discouraged, they left it, in many 
cases giving up their property to those who held mort¬ 
gages on it. We understand that an effort is to be 
made to sell this land again to a second crop of un¬ 
fortunate or discontented people. Efforts are to be 
made in the States west of the Missouri River to in¬ 
crease greatly their population before the census year 
—1900. This is a perfectly legitimate enterprise, and 
there are many portions of these States where com¬ 
fortable homes can be made by the economical and 
thrifty. It is a sin against humanity, however, to in¬ 
duce poor people to settle on the deserts from which 
hopeless ones have already been driven by starvation 
and want. This is a poor time to change one’s loca¬ 
tion. Better stick to the old farm and see whether 
you cannot, by getting closer to it, learn where the 
trouble lies. 
0 
The Indiana Experiment Station has issued a sen¬ 
sible bulletin on Kaffir corn for Indiana. Certain 
newspapers have been printing an article which gives 
this plant the most extravagant praise. Prof. Latta, 
of Indiana, gives the following conservative report: 
While Kaffir corn may well claim the attention of farmers living 
in very dry climates, it is at least an open question, whether it 
can prove advantageous to the farmers of Indiana. It should be 
borne in mind that the sorghums are recommended as forage 
plants for the drier climates in which Indian corn cannot thrive. 
Where Indian corn grows to perfection, as it does in all portions 
of Indiana, it would be extremely unwise to neglect it for any of 
the sorghums which have thus far shown no special adaptation 
to this section. 
That is a safe rule to follow in buying seed of this 
plant. This was our report 10 years ago. Try it in a 
small way before you buy it extensively. 
0 
In Mexico and Central America, are many insects 
injurious to fruits and vegetables. Should they 
once find a lodgment in this country, it is likely 
that they will spread and do much injury to our or¬ 
chards and gardens. We have insect foes enough now 
without importing any more. The entomologist of the 
New Mexico Station suggests that the experiment 
stations in the States along the southern border of 
this country, combine and take measures to keep out 
such insects so far as possible. It is also suggested 
that the United States Government employ a compe¬ 
tent entomologist to travel through Central America, 
studying these insects and planning methods of fight¬ 
ing them. Why not ? Let’s know about these insects 
before they reach us. If eastern farmers had known 
about the potato beetle before it reached their farms, 
they could have saved many dollars. 
0 
Theoretically, sugar takes less plant food out of 
the soil than any other crop besides honey. There is 
no potash, phosphoric acid or nitrogen in the finished 
crop, and if the cane, after being crushed, could be 
all returned to the soil, we might say that additional 
manures and fertilizers would never be needed. The 
molasses, however, contains considerable potash and 
phosphoric acid, which would be lost to the land if 
sold. As we have often stated, the Louisiana sugar 
growers have tried, in various ways, to dispose of 
their waste molasses at a profit. Thousands of tons 
have been poured into ponds and streams. Efforts 
have been made to work it into rum, or to feed it to 
live stock. The latest plan is to char it and use it as a 
fertilizer. The Louisiana Planter states that a heat 
of 350 degrees will take the water and stickiness out 
of the molasses, and leave a fine, dry product contain¬ 
ing quite a high percentage of available potash and 
phosphoric acid. What a singular • commentary it is 
on the changes that have taken place in American 
agriculture, when the sugar princes of Louisiana will 
seriously consider such a disposition of a waste 
product. 
0 
The Southern Farmer states that never before in 
the history of New Orleans have there been such im¬ 
mense shipments of western corn to that port. Most 
of it is for export to the republics south of us or to 
Europe. In former years, the vast quantity of corn 
came to the South to be used on Southern plantations, 
Last year, however, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi 
and, probably, Georgia produced twice as much corn 
as was grown in any previous year. Had they not 
done so, the grain that is now piling up in New 
Orleans would have been distributed through these 
States, and the money paid for it would have been 
sent out of the South. As it is, this western corn is 
forced to seek a new outlet in search of a cash market. 
This is one of the first indications of the effect on the 
country’s trade that may be expected when the South 
began to produce food for export instead of buying it 
from the West. Fifty years ago, New England farm¬ 
ers began to find that cheap western meat and grain 
were destined to change all their plans for agriculture. 
To-day the western man must realize that the present 
unused possibilities of Southern climate and soil will, 
sooner or later, be utilized to force changes in crops 
and methods upon him. 
0 
Americans are aware of the fact that a war of re¬ 
bellion is being waged on the island of Cuba, but few 
have given much thought to the causes of this war, 
and fewer still know how it is progressing. The re¬ 
ports sent to the press are either magnified or gar¬ 
bled to suit one side or the other, so that it is hard to 
learn the exact condition of affairs on the island. 
From information that appears to be accurate and 
fair, we conclude that the rebellion is fully justified, 
and that the insurgents are pretty sure to win. By 
location and climate, Cuba is fitted to be about the 
happiest and most prosperous bit of earth that peeps 
out of the ocean. Instead of that, we find there to¬ 
day a colony cursed with all the blights of crime, 
ignorance, bigotry and hopeless wrong. Spain has 
forced this condition of affairs upon Cuba by her 
national greed for gold. From the time of Columbus, 
the Spanish government has regarded its American 
colonies simply as fingers, useful to gather up money 
and send it over the seas to the old country. Injus¬ 
tice, extortion, bribery and fraud have characterized 
the acts of most of the rulers sent over from Spain. 
In vain does the stranger in Cuba look for the schools, 
hospitals, asylums or other public mementos which 
the rich in other countries often leave behind them. 
The whole trend of public life has been in the direction 
of miserly and grasping egotism. Spanish rule has 
failed, and so far as we can see, the Cubans are more 
fully justified in their rebellion than were the Ameri¬ 
can colonies when they rose against Great Britain. 
We think that the Cubans will in the end succeed. 
They are in the right. Spain is crippled financially ; 
her soldiers are mostly ignorant and untrained men 
with no patriotic spirit—and she deserves to lose as a 
just retribution for her evil government. It is said 
that the Cubans are incapable of self government. 
The same thing was said of Americans during the 
Revolution, and it will always be said of any nation 
or class that asserts its rights and speaks out against 
oppression and wrong. Success to the Cubans in their 
struggle for liberty ! 
0 
BREVITIES. 
It is folded away in the bureau drawer, 
With the rent unpatched that her lingers tore, 
The daintiest garment you ever saw— 
The little, long dress that the baby wore. 
“ Lie there,” said her mother, “ the long years through, 
Wait there till the baby some day will come 
With her first big dolly and call for you 
To rustle her skirts in her new doll’s home ! ” 
So there it is waiting till baby grows 
To a little mother. The years are long. 
Will she ever come for the dress ? Who knows 
What infinite plans to the years belong? 
Wait patiently there with your ribbons blue; 
Wait patiently, holding our hopes and fears, 
And tenderly lead the poor baby through 
The troubles and cares of the coining years. 
All about lettuce culture next week. 
Quack grass has more lives than a cat. 
Cook a good dinner for the bread winner. 
Foot up a list of the unhandy things on your farm. 
It’s hal'd to beat corn stalks as a mulch for strawberries. 
The splice of a vice will Dreak off a man’s good resolves in a 
trice. 
It is civil government when the man in authority says, “ Please 
do that! ” 
When a smart boy does the work of a dull man does he get a 
man’s pay ? 
Are you doing any of Grundy’s “ tinkering” this winter ? Do 
you spell your profits with an un ? 
Look out for the man who thinks “ gallinocultural science’ 
looks better in print than hen keeping. 
What is the secret of cooperative success ? Not the many who 
“ co” but the selected few who operate. 
“ Keep the boy on the farm ! ” How about the girls ? Are they 
not worth as much as the boys ? Why not ? 
Read the ingenious explanation of the hen’s ability to withhold 
an egg (page 123), and then resolve to keep your liens good- 
natured. 
Hens often crowd too much on the roost. The latest scheme is 
to put pegs in the roost at regular distances so as to keep the 
birds apart. 
Mississippi has a strong law against carrying concealed 
weapons. The tongue that whispers slander is a dangerous con¬ 
cealed weapon. 
“ You can’t make honest figures lie ! ” That’s what they teach 
us in our schools, yet figures make the truth to fly when liars use 
them for their tools. 
Young man, that drinking fund of yours would make a good 
sinking fund to start you in business. It will sink you anyway 
if you continue to drink it up. 
Look up the performance of your bull’s grandmother as Mr. 
Powell suggests. Then select his best daughters and feed them 
well. That is simple science in breeding. 
What matter if the wintry chorus blows or at the cracks Jack 
Frost’s sharp teeth may gnaw, if in the shed the wood pile slowly 
grows—a monument to father’s ax and saw ? 
Probably fewer bogus fertilizers are sold in Connecticut than 
in any other State. This is due to the experiment station. Now 
this station will move on similar lines against bogus and adulter¬ 
ated foods. 
We are informed that Bulletin 94 of the Geneva, N. Y., Experi¬ 
ment Station can no longer be supplied to persons living outside 
the State. This bulletin has been widely circulated. Simple and 
soluble science about fertilizer is always popular. 
Here is one man’s opinion on the hen question: “Cana hen 
refrain from laying at will ? My observation leads me to believe 
that the gentler sex can do most things they have a will to, so 
that on general principles I would incline to say yes !” 
The Jersey Bulletin, which ought to know, says that swindlers 
have done much injury by palming off low-grade cattle as genu¬ 
ine Jersey cows. They “buy up anythingthat looks like a Jersey” 
and take them to regions where the breed is not known, for sale 
Who bred these cull Jerseys, anyway ? 
