1896 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
277 
Another skillfully written advertisement for the 
Holstein cattle, is going the rounds of the agricul¬ 
tural press. This time, it is an article describing the 
breeding of a dairy herd in California, in which Hol¬ 
stein blood proved superior to that of several other 
breeds No one can object to the article as written 
—we have no doubt that it is a truthful record of 
facts—but copies were evidently sent to all the papers, 
and now it is being printed all over the country, word 
for word, in a dozen different papers. 
O 
Reports come to us that the contracts for the 
seeds for Uncle Sam’s seed shop, have been let to an 
old-established seed firm. The contract is for 10,125,- 
000 packets of vegetable seeds delivered at the Depart¬ 
ment at Washington, ready for mailing. The price is 
approximately seven-tenths of a cent per packet. Is 
there likely to be much that is rare and valuable at 
such a price ? The seeds must stand a germinative 
test, and will, possibly, therefore, be better than some 
of the miserable stuff sent out heretofore. Contracts 
have also been made with another seed firm for 
1 , 000,000 packets of flower seeds at a cost of one-half 
cent per packet. If these figures cover cost, there 
must be considerable profit in the seed business at 
the usual figures. But what a farce the whole thing 
is when the original intent of the law is taken into 
account! 
0 
In 1890, 12,856,875 catalogues of nursery firms were 
fired off at the American public. The nurserymen 
paid $512,054.61 for newspaper advertising, $394,163.76 
for postage, $785,387.91 for freight, and $442,994.67 for 
express. At that time, there were 4,510 nurseries in 
the country, occupying 172,806 acres of land, valued 
at $41,978,835.80. On 95,012 acres, there were growing 
3,386,855,778 plants and trees, of which 518,016,612 
were fruit trees, and 685,603,396 were grape vines and 
small fruits. Since then the business has increased 
still further, and now takes rank in importance and 
wealth with some departments of grain growing and 
stock raising, especially when we add the business 
done by florists. In 1890, the florists sent out 21,055,- 
694 catalogues, and sold $12,036,477.76 worth of plants 
and $14,175,328.01 worth of cut flowers. 
A correspondent wishes a book that will give him 
all needed information about celery growing. There 
is no such book. The book or paper that will give all 
needed information on any subject, has never been 
published. Many people make this mistake of think¬ 
ing that they can learn all about a subject from a 
book. They can get great help, and learn the experi¬ 
ence of many others; but this experience must be 
mixed with a goodly portion of personal experience 
to be profitable. Certain local conditions of soil, atmo¬ 
sphere, weather, etc., require special operations, and 
these must be learned from experience. The most 
successful man is he who gains from books and 
papers and from intercourse with others, all possible 
knowledge, passes it through the filter of personal 
experience, and crystallizes the results by practical 
application. Learn all possible by reading, but don’t 
expect thus to learn it all. 
0 
Have low prices for dairy products come to stay ? 
asks the Elgin Dairy Report. It says that, daring the 
past four or five years, meat and grain-raising farmers 
have been compelled to sell their products at lower 
prices, while a dairy farmer who made a good product, 
had been able to secure fair returns. But with butter 
in February at 18 cents, a price much lower than it 
has ever before sold for at that time, and less than 
one-half what it has often been worth at that time of 
year, the question is as to whether this state of 
affairs is only temporary, caused by the oversupply, 
or permanent. The Report believes that this con¬ 
dition has come to stay, and will extend until it in¬ 
cludes every agricultural product, and that the only 
hope for the farmer, whatever he produce, is in econ¬ 
omy of production. The dairyman must keep cows 
that produce not less than 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of 
milk per year, must feed and care for them so as to 
produce each pound of milk as cheaply as possible, 
and the factoryman must practice such economy in 
working the product that the toll shall be as light as 
possible. Another and, perhaps, the most important 
point, is to make the product of the very best grade, 
thus insuring the highest prices. We would also add 
to this the fact that hired farm labor is too high in 
proportion to the price of farm products, and must 
either be reduced or else dispensed with to a greater 
or less extent, by one means or another. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
The patrons of J. C. Vaughan’s seed house of Chicago, may desire 
to know that Mr. Vaughan has a complete branch store at 20 
Barclay Street, New York City. 
A brand new thing in eveners is offered by Ross Brothers, 
Worcester, Mass. It looks like an excellent arrangement. Ask 
them about it. First order secures an agency. 
The paper used on a wall has much to do with the appearance 
and cheerfulness of the room. It should harmonize, also, with 
the furniture. Local stores seldom keep a good variety of latest 
patterns. Chas. M. N. Killen, 1,237 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, 
Pa., will send samples of paper, and guide to papering, free. 
Letters from farmers who are using Ingersoll’s ready-mixed 
paints, indicate that farm buildings and farm machinery are 
receiving more attention from the paint brush than formerly. We 
don’t know of any better investment for the money required. O. 
W. Ingersoll, 246 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, N. Y., sends the 
paint ready mixed, direct, freight paid, to consumers. 
We have had many inquiries, recently, about gas engines for 
small power on the farm. The Carter Gas Engine Co., Box 26, 
Sterling, Ill., makes an engine that is well adapted for this use. 
The same house also makes a traction gas engine. The gas 
engine has the advantage of starting up almost instantly, and of 
stopping quite as promptly. This saves time and fuel, and is 
sure to make the gas engine a popular power on the farm. The 
above firm will be glad to send descriptive circulars. 
When all the conditions are just right, the windmill gives the 
readiest and cheapest power to be had on the farm, and it may be 
made to answer a number of requirements. The Halladay wind¬ 
mill has stood the test for years, and we believe that the manu¬ 
facturers of it would not recommend its use unless they were 
satisfied that, In the particular case, it would give desirable ser¬ 
vice. Of course, it is necessary for them to know all the condi¬ 
tions before they can give intelligent advice. The U. S. Wind 
Engine and Pump Co., 113 Water Street, Batavia, Ill., is the maker, 
and the catalogue contains descriptions of kindred implements. 
The Syracuse grape hoe seems to be an implement that fills a 
long-felt want for fruit growers, especially grape growers. It is 
difficult, if not impossible, to stir the soil close to the vine when 
the foliage is at full growth, with a plow, or even hand tools; but 
this the grape hoe accomplishes very satisfactorily. As the 
stirring of the soil is a preventive of mildew, the value of this 
implement will be apparent. It is worked with one horse, and the 
disc and wheel are so controlled by handles that the hoe may be 
worked under the wire, and up close to berry bushes with the 
greatest facility, turning the soil to or from the bushes, as de¬ 
sired. For fuller description and illustration, address the Syra¬ 
cuse Chilled Plow Co., Syracuse, N. Y. 
STOCKBRIDCE 
SPECIAL 
COMPLETE 
MANURES 
FOR DIFFERENT CROPS, 
ARE MADE 
DOUBLE STRENGTH. 
IN MANY OF THESE 
WELL-KNOWN FERTI¬ 
LIZERS, THE 
POTASHb^IIMCREASED 
FOR 1896, IN ONE CASE 
OYER 40 PER CENT., BUT 
NO ADVANCE HAS BEEN 
MADE IN THE PRICE. 
SEE LOCAL AGENTS, OR ADDRESS 
RfiWFCD FERTILIZER Chatham St, Boston 
" v M COMPANY, 27 Beaver St, New York 
>©©©©©00©©0©0€>0©6f 
Fertilizer represents the highest nu¬ 
tritive value. Practical experiments 
prove it to be the most economical in 
use and productive in results. Analysis 
shows it to contain for a basis 
HIGH GRADE PURE FINE BONE 
combined with the most efficacious properties 
dead ground. Made for all kinds of crops, 
seed stores in the Middle States 
and New England. Send for 
1896 Catalogue. 
L. B. DARLING FERTILIZER CO., 
PAWTUCKET, K. I. 
An infallible life renewer for 
Sold by all agricultural and 
FERTILIZERS 
C 
orn 
is a vigorous feeder and re¬ 
sponds well to liberal fertiliza¬ 
tion. On corn lands the yield 
increases and the soil improves 
if properly treated with fer¬ 
tilizers containing not under 
7% actual 
Potash. 
A trial of this plan costs but 
little and is sure to lead to 
profitable culture. 
Our pamphlets are not advertising circulars boom- 
nig special fertilizers, but are practical works, contain- 
1 ig latest researches on the subject of fertilization, and 
. re really helpful to farmers. They are sent free for 
die asking. 
GERMAN KALI WORKS, 
93 Nassau St., New York. 
Genuine 1 '“.T Guano, 
In original packages as imported. No 
manipulation. Limited stock. To-day’s 
price, $37 per ton, cash, f. o. b. Camden 
or Philadelphia. 
TAYLOR BROS. , SI,rket o»«i r “ t J 3,r “"' 
ROSP^ 
2 °° 1, 
lFISH \1 
.yj 
ERIE 
MDomfifffinLtZERS 
MANUFACTURED BY V 
theJarecki Chemical Co., 
^ SANDUSKY. QUID. 
ASHES. 
For prices address TIIOS. POTTS, Brantford, Ont. 
CANADA 
UNLKACHKD 
HARDWOOD 
Energy in germination means much to the tender plant. 
It may lack vitality which cannot he supplied by the worn < 
out soil. Here is where the application of a COOD t 
FERTILIZER comes in to aid it. Ours will not only , 
profitable production.” Writi^for circulars, jirices L <Sc. CLEVELAND D R Y E R^ C0C leV (3 1 3 mb 
N THE START 
start it but keep it growing np to the point of 
pefctnt Peruvian Cuano. 
Peruvian Guano, 
Fine Ground Dried Fish. 
Prices on Application BAUGH «fe SONS COMPANY, 412 Exchange Place, Baltimore, Md. 
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. 
