im 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
261 
The last report of the Department of Agriculture 
indicates a decrease of §82,500,000 in the value of farm 
stock since 1885. On January 1, 1896, there were 
8,974,770 fewer sheep than in 1893, while their value 
had fallen from §125,909,264 to §65,167,735. Think of 
it—a shrinkage of §60,000,000 in four years ! Cattle 
increased in value somewhat, while swine decreased 
a little. Horses and mules have lost §553,644,203 of 
the value they held in 1893. The loss in the value of 
sheep is charged chiefly to changes in the tariff. 
The horse and the mule have lost a part of their job, 
and have been beaten by electricity, cable and bicycle. 
O 
The duties of citizenship can not be urged upon the 
attention of farmers too much. The thoughtful, con¬ 
servative vote of the country, must be expected in 
large measure from those living outside the great 
centers of population. Many problems of govern¬ 
ment are pressing for more intelligent consideration 
and solution, and the farmers are directly interested 
in them. The granting of franchises for the perform¬ 
ance of public services, has led to the creation of 
what are called “ natural monopolies.” The ti-ans- 
portation of persons and freight has fallen into the 
hands of a relatively few persons in this country, and 
free competition for the regulation of charges can be, 
and is, destroyed. As population and traflic increase, 
the power of transportation companies naturally 
grows in geometric ratio. The citizen is in duty 
bound to consider this matter, and to seek to have in¬ 
telligent convictions. We do not want to rush into 
greater ills, or, on the other hand, do we want to 
drift into ills equally great. If it be true that our 
measure of values—the dollar—grows greater in pur¬ 
chasing power annually on account of undue limita¬ 
tion in quantity of the material from which dollars of 
final redemption are made, then has the voter a 
serious problem before him. Farmers are interested 
in having an honest and reasonably stable measure of 
value—not one that grows dear or cheap. It is their 
privilege and duty to study the question, and to cast 
intelligent ballots. How far may all harmful adul¬ 
teration and counterfeiting of products of the soil be 
prevented? What will be effective legislation? are 
questions every citizen should consider. Alcohol is 
used to bankrupt people mentally,'morally, physically 
and financially, and to burden all of us ; the control 
of its use is a puzzling matter, but intelligent and 
conscientious men can not cast it aside because it 
puzzles. Dozens of problems confront the voter, and 
both conscience and intelligence are in demand. 
BUS/MESS BITS . 
C. U. Chapman, Peruville, N. Y., wishes to sell some of his seed 
potatoes. 
That seems to be a good chance for a practical celery grower, 
offered by A. E. Carswell, Montague, N. J. 
E. Goettsche, 1,049 Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Ill., has a very 
handy device for spraying potatoes. It will spray two rcfws at a 
time. The price is very reasonable. 
Mb. N. W. Allyn, New Haven, Conn., reports that he has used 
Gombault’s Caustic Balsam to reduce a hard bunch on a horse’s 
knee, caused by knocking, with most satisfactory results. This 
is a good liniment to have in the horse stable. 
There may be those who will overlook the auction sale announce¬ 
ment of Ridge Farm on page 267, and we make this note to refer 
to it. Mrs. W. C. Norton is a careful breeder, and some of the 
best Jersey and Berkshire blood in the country will be under the 
hammer in this sale, which takes place April 15, at Aldenville, Pa 
The Jarecki Chemical Co., of Sandusky, O., do a large business 
in chemicals and mixed fertilizers. Our western readers who 
need such goods, will do well to correspond with them. This firm 
uses a large amount of ground fish, and as they are located on 
Lake Erie, they are able to offer the best of bargains. Fish and 
potash, as our readers know, make a fine fertilizer for grass, 
grain or truck. Lake Erie can feed your land. 
The Creamery Package Mfg. Co., 1, 3, and 5 West Washington 
Street, Chicago, Ill., say that they can furnish everything in the 
dairy supply line to make first-class butter, except the brains. 
We assume that the exception is due to their modesty. They have 
the brains all right ; but they are, probably, in the original pack¬ 
age, and not in shape to retail. At all events, they have brains 
enough to provide an exceptionally fine line of everything needed 
in the dairy line from a skimming ladle to a complete factory. 
If there is anything under the sun that you need for the poultry 
yard, you can get it from the Excelsior Wire and Poultry Supply 
Co., 28 Vesey Street, New York City. An incubator to hatch the 
chicks, brooder to care for them, any kind of feed, meat, bone, 
grit or shell, drinking fountains, wire fencing, egg cases, bone 
mills, roofing paper—in short, everything. Prairie State incu¬ 
bators and brooders at a discount from list prices. New York is 
a central shipping point, too. A large catalogue free ! Send for it! 
The cooks at our house have discovered a use for Gold Dust 
washing powder that renders it almost as necessary as salt. 
After using a pan in which fat has been fried, a little of the Gold 
Dust powder is dropped into it, the pan partly filled with water 
and left on the stove. It is then a very simple matter to wash out 
the pan. In cleaning greasy dishes or anything else where fat 
accumulates, this powder is wonderfully effective. When used 
for “spring cleaning,” it is about the most discouraging thing a 
bug can run against. 
There is a great deal in a plow. It is true that some men will 
do better work with the same plow than others; but a good plow¬ 
man will do better work with some plows than with others. Be¬ 
sides, some plows are much lighter draft for a team than others, 
and the light-draft plows always do the best work. Both the 
swivel and landside plows made by the Columbia Plow Works, 
Copake Iron Works, N. Y., are light draft, easily handled and 
leave the furrow in the best possible condition. Fuller descrip¬ 
tion will be sent on application. 
Special to Planters! 
TREES^PLANTA 
FOR ORCHARDS AND GARDENS, 
and for the embellishment of public and private grounds. Among 
our many specialties we direct attention to the 
BEAUTIFUL NEW DROOPING MULBERRY. 
CAROLINA POPLAR.—Rapid grower; for streets, screens, etc. 
Immediately effective. 
LOMBARDY POPLAR.—Tall, spiry form. 
GOLDEN ENGLISH OAK.—A superb tree. 
SCHWEDLER’S PURPLE MAPLE.—A strong grower, with large, 
rich, purple foliage. 
SUGAR MAPLES.—Of various sizes, for streets and shade. 
JAPANESE MAPLES.—Medium-sized trees of 1 rare beauty, two 
varieties. Purple and Cut-leaved Purple. 
TARTARIAN MAPLE.—Novel and beautiful small tree. 
WIER’S CUT-LEAVED SILVER MAPLE.—Most beautiful, rapid- 
growing ornamental tree, drooping habit. 
AMERICAN ELM.—Nursery grown, well rooted, for streets, parks, 
shade and ornament. 
DWARF PINE.—Hardy dwarf evergreen. 
PYRAMIDAL ARBOR VITAS.—Of fine, erect, compact habit for 
yards. Also, a large stock of the reliable old favorites, Nor¬ 
way Spruce, Austrian Pine, and American Arbor Vitse for 
screens, borders, groups, etc. 
FLOWERING SHRUBS.—In great variety, including many novel¬ 
ties of special merit, among which may be named Lcmoine’s 
New, Double-flowered Lilacs, Golden Elder, Purple Plum, and 
the New Panicled Japan Clematis, the greatest acquisition of 
recent years in climbers for verandas, pillars, etc. 
HARDY PHLOX.—New sorts, rare collection. 
NEW and REMARKABLE ROSES. 
NEW CLIMBING ROSE “CRIMSON RAMBLER.” 
NEW JAPAN TRAILING ROSE WIGHURAIANA. 
HARDY TRUE PERPETUAL BLOOMING ROSE “ CLOTHILDE 
SOUPERT.” 
NEW HARDY WHITE ROSE MARCHIONESS of LONDONDERRY 
—Best White Rose yet introduced, of extraordinary beauty 
and merit. 
CURRANTS.—A large stock of fine plants of the best kinds, Fay’s, 
Cherry, Versailles and Victoria. 
LARGE FRUITED GOOSEBERRIES.—Unknown and unappre¬ 
ciated as yet. Growers who plant now will secure valuable 
crops. Downing , Industry, Columbus, Triumph , all choice and 
valuable and offered with our strongest commendation. 
SUPERLATIVE RASPBERRY.—A very large, showy, High 
* flavored, Red Raspberry. 
In addition to the above we offer our large and complete line of 
nursery stock, embracing Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, 
Roses, Vines, etc., the largest and choicest collections in the 
United States. 
For full particulars, send for our New and beautifully illus¬ 
trated Catalogue—10 cents for postage. 
ELLWANGER & BARRY, 
Mount Hope Nurseries, 
% 
56TH YEAR. ROCHESTER, N. Y. 
An object lesson 
in fertilizers. 
Tn 1887 a piece of land was broken up and planted to 
potatoes on the Stoekbridge Potato Manure without any 
other fertilizer. It yielded 340 bushels per acre. 
The same piece was planted to potatoes every year 
up to 1895, and the average yield for the eight years was 
384 bushels per acre. 
No fertilizer was used on the piece during this time 
except 
Stoekbridge 
potato Manure 
This experiment, which is detailed in our catalogue, 
proves what other farmers have also found true, that the 
Stoekbridge furnishes all the plant food crops require for 
large yields, and in the best forms for the particular crop 
grown. The form of the plant food is as important as 
the quantity. 
The Stoekbridge Manures are manufactured 
“ double strength ” ; they have been in the market for 
nearly 25 years and have always led in improvement. 
They have been improved for 1896, MORE POT¬ 
ASH BEING ADDED, IN ONE CASE NEAR¬ 
LY 40 % INCREASE,BUT NO INCREASE HAS 
BEEN HADE IN THE PRICE. 
See our local agents or address 
BOWKER FERTILIZER 43 Chatham St, Boston 
Peruvian Guano, 
Containing 10 per cent of Ammonia at 
greatly reduced prices. 
Peruvian Guano. 
Fine Ground Dried Fish. 
Prices on Application BAUGH & SONS COMPANY, 412 Exchange Place, Baltimore, Md. 
Tobacco. 
No crop varies more in qual¬ 
ity according - to grade of ferti¬ 
lizers used than tobacco. Pot¬ 
ash is its most important re¬ 
quirement, producing a large 
yield of finest grade leaf. Use 
only fertilizers containing at 
least 10 % actual 
Potash (K ,o, 
in form of sulphate. To in¬ 
sure a clean burning leaf, avoid 
fertilizers containing chlorine. 
O 
Our pamphlets are not advertising circulars boom¬ 
ing special fertilizers, but are practical works, contain¬ 
ing latest researches on the subject of fertilization, and 
are really helpful to farmers. They are sent free for 
the asking. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
qi Nassau St.. New York. 
FcimuztRS 
TSTTROfTfC^^J^ViO-AGENTS 1 
THE MARYLAND 
AGRICULTURAL RE¬ 
PORTS give Pleasants’ 
Fertilizers a 30-per cent 
higher valuation than 
I am charging farmers 
who order direct of me. 
WM. A. PLEASANTS, 
31 E. Pratt St., Balt.,Md 
PERUVIAN 
AND 
BONE 
toriuzi* 5 * 
W r i te for 
prices and cir¬ 
cular of Fer¬ 
tilizer Materi¬ 
als, Agricul¬ 
tural Chemi¬ 
cals and Spe¬ 
cial Formula. 
and ompfERTILIZERS 
MANUFACTURED BY V 
the Jarecki Chemical Col 
^SANDUSKY, QNI CL 
CANADA 
UNLEACHED 
HARDWOOD 
ASHES. 
For prices address THOS. POTTS, Brantford, Ont. 
THE BEST FERTILIZERS 
produce large crops, maintaining the fertility of the soil. To use 
proper fertilizer materials is of first importance to every grower 
of crops. High-grade Bone Fertilizers furnish the cheapest and 
best plant-food known. We manufacture our goods to supply a 
constant supply of food for the needs of the plants and to keep 
up a vigorous growth. You will have the right material at 
the right time by using our goods. 
Send for full Descriptive Circular and Testimonials. Agents 
Wanted in Sections Unoccupied. 
I. P. THOMAS & SON CO., Philadelphia. 
