355 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
May 23 
The Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country anti Suburban Homes 
Established 1850. 
Klbeht S. Cabman, Editor-in-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collinuwood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon. Business Manager. 
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Advertisements inserted only for responsible and honorable houses 
We must have copy one week before the date of issue. 
Be sure that the name and address of sender, with name of Post- 
office and State, and what the remittance is for, appear in every 
letter. Money orders and bank drafts on New York are the safest 
means of transmitting money. 
Address all business communications and make all orders pay 
able to 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets. New York. 
SATURDAY . MAY 23. 1896. 
Mr. Stevenson, page 3G2, wants to try a narrower 
ration for poultry, but finds it difficult to make suck a 
ration that will be acceptable to the liens We would 
like to have suggestions from our readers as to the 
possibility of making such a ration out of ordinary 
foods. How would you make it up ? 
© 
It is reported that experiments show that the nor¬ 
mal temperature of the negro is lower than that of 
the white man. The explanation given is that a dark 
skin radiates heat more freely than a lighter one, and 
that, therefore, a brown or black man can the more 
readily get rid of surplus bodily’ heat. According 
to this, a well-tanned skin is cooler than one that is 
“lily white,’ and we believe that there is truth in 
the theory. 
0 
Why not simplify the directions for making the 
stock solutions lor the Bordeaux Mixture, by using 
one pound of sulphate of copper or one pound of lime 
for each gallon of water ustdin making the respec¬ 
tive stock solutions. Tben each gallon of the solution 
will represent one pound of tile material used. Tben 
by taking six gallons of each solution, and adding 
sufficient water to make 50 gallons of the compound, 
the proper proportions of the Bordeaux Mixture are 
readily secured. 
O 
The R. N.-Y. believes in keeping up old records and 
monuments that tell us how people lived years ago 
when this country was new. We like to see old 
houses preserved w hen it is possible to keep them, for 
by presenting a contrast to our more modern dwell¬ 
ings they show us how times have changed, and how 
society is constantly making itself over. The old 
house pictured on page 351, well illustrates the sort 
of dwelling that was “ home” to the early settlers in 
Orange County, N. Y. This illustration is taken from 
the programme of the Wallkitl Valley Farmers’ Asso¬ 
ciation, which is a highly successful organization of 
farmers. Such old houses stand as monuments to the 
memory of the sturdy men and women who cleared 
the land and left it as a “ goodly heritage” for this 
generation. 
© 
Many of the western experiment stations are issuing 
bulletins on the Chinch bug. This insect has proved 
a terror in many Western grain fields, and, naturally, 
scientific men have studied hard to devise ways and 
means of lighting this active little enemy. The R. 
N.-Y. has told its readers about the plan of killing off 
these bugs by scattering among them the bodies of 
insects that had died of a contagious disease. This 
disease was thus spread, and when the conditions 
were right, millions of the bugs were destroyed. At 
one time, high hopes were entertained that this 
method would enable a farmer to protect his crops ; 
but careful experiments have shown that, unless the 
conditions are just right, the plan will not succeed. 
In wet weather, and where the bugs are massed to¬ 
gether, the disease spreads rapidly ; but in time of 
drought, where the bugs are scattered, this method is 
not effective. Probably, the best method is to keep 
the bugs out of a field, or poison them and kill them 
before they move on to destroy new crops. To do 
this, deep furrows are plowed completely around the 
field. If possible, along the top of the furrow is 
smeared a strip of coal tar or salt and kerosene. The 
bugs can climb a perpendicular wall, but cannot get 
up a sloping side of fine dust, and thus they congre¬ 
gate in the furrow, where they are killed by dragging 
a log of wood back and forth over them, or getting 
them into holes, where they are killed with kerosene. 
The development of these methods of destroying in¬ 
sects and other pests is a good illustration of the 
possibilities of our experiment stations. The indi¬ 
vidual farmer could not work out these problems by 
himself. There must be men who will make it their 
business, with every necessary app'iance, to study 
these things out, and learn the scientific principles or 
truths that underlie them. With these in miud, the 
inver tor and the farmer will quickly learn how to do 
the work. 
0 
The New York Sun, in an effort to be funny, gives 
vent to the following bit of wisdom concerning the 
New York State Department of Agriculture : 
The purpose of the office held by Mr. Wieting is to give a salary 
to a Republican or a Democrat, and to persuade the farmers that 
the State Government smiles upon their labors. Tne Commis¬ 
sioner benefits himself and, perhaps, his party, but he is as un¬ 
necessary to the farming interests of New York as a dentist in 
a henhouse. In fact, he might just as well, and with a better 
sense of the fit and fitness of thiugs, be taken from Wall Street or 
I ifth Avenue. The leaders and champions of agriculture are the 
farmers themselves. 
In part of that statement, the Sun came nearer the 
truth than it meant to. When the office can be sold 
by Mr. Thomas C Platt before the Governor is elected, 
it certainly looks as though the office was created sim¬ 
ply to provide a salary for some politician. It is a 
shameful thing that the charge that this office was 
thus bought and paid for, should stand without denial 
for a single day. 
© 
I ue Ohio Experiment Station people have made 
several experiments with Crimson clover, and have 
also received a number of reports from different 
parts of Ohio. The conclusion is that the crop is, 
at best, a doubtful one, especially north of the 40th 
degree of latitude, when sown later than August 1. 
Some successes are reported south of 40 degrees, even 
in last year’s dry season ; but on the whole, the Ohio 
reports are to the effect that the Crimson is not so 
hardy as Red clover. Spring sowing is not advised, 
as it usually results in a very short growth and early 
heading. The Ohio report states that plants were 
found bearing 30 to 37 stems, and with one-third 
more blossoms than stems. This indicates the 
wonderful “stooling ” and flowering capacity of the 
plant, and shows, as The R. N.-Y. has pointed out, 
that a “stand,’ which may look like a perfect failure 
early in the spring, may grow and spread so as 
nearly to cover the ground later on. In the face of 
all the adverse reports that may be piled on top of it, 
Tjje R. N.-Y. still stands by Crimson clover. Our ad¬ 
vice to farmers who can grow, even a few plants this 
year, is to save the seed from them, and sow it in the 
chaff as did our friend in Pennsylvania, who gives his 
experience on page 354. 
O 
Prof. Thomas Shaw, in his notes on our first page, 
makes some remarkable statements about the amount 
of sheep food that may be grown on an acre. Prof. 
Shaw is right in say ng that this question of securing 
plenty of green summer food is an important one for 
farmers. In the majority of cases, pastures are as dry 
as a chip for weeks in the summer, and unless the 
sheep are fed grain, or given green fodder of some 
sort, they are sure to suffer. Prof. Shaw’s plan is to 
have a succession of crops growing on small but well 
cultivated fields. By means of portable fences, the 
sheep are kept on these growing crops until they are 
eaten down. Then the Aock is moved to another part 
of the field, and the crop they have eaten either makes 
a second growth, or the land is worked up and planted 
to a new and different crop. Thus, by moving them 
from one point to another, the sheep are kept con¬ 
stantly on good pasture. It will ne seen that Prof. 
Shaw is enthusiastic over sorghum as a summer crop 
for sheep. It is better than corn, because it grows up 
rapidly when eaten to the ground. There have been 
many complaints about the damage done by feeding 
this second growth to stock, and we would prefer 
further experiments before advising the extensive 
use of sorghum as pasture. 
© 
One of the hard social problems of American life is 
the best way to care for the insane. One who has 
ever been through the painful experience of caring 
for an insane person must have realized how poor are 
the chances for recovery in the ordinary asylum. 
Where these unfortunates are crowded together in 
gre*t buildings, it is well nigh impossible to give 
them the quiet and personal attention that their 
malady demands. We are not speaking of wealthy 
patients who can afford to pay for extras, but of the 
poor people who must take what the State gives them. 
At Gheel, in Belgium, 1,800 insane patients are treated 
on the colony plan. This part of Belgium is a country 
of small farms. There is a central station or infirm¬ 
ary to which patients are first taken. Here they are 
kept for a few days, where the cases are carefully 
studied, and then they are put out to board in nearby 
farmhouses. Never more than two patients are 
placed in one family. Five doctors and six overseers 
make regular visits among the patients, and careful 
watch is kept to see that they are well treated. The 
cost of board runs from 12 to 19 cents a day. Under 
this quiet and homelike treatment, the insane patients 
are happy, and we can readily believe that the per 
cent of cures is higher than in the punlic institutions 
of this country. Possibly a similar colony plan could 
not be carried out in this country, as it might be diffi¬ 
cult to find farmers who would take such boarders. 
W e believe, however, that the chances of recovery 
would be greater if the insane could be kept in 
smaller companies and given more liberty and more 
outdoor exercise. 
O 
A patch of 1,200 potted Parker Earle strawberry 
plants affords an interesting study just now. The 
plants were set the first week in September, while the 
ground was very dry. The first 1,000 plants were well 
soaked before setting, by pouring water over the 
crates which contained the pots. A workman neg¬ 
lected to soak the remaining 200, which were planted 
on another day. Ninety of the 200 failed to live, while 
less than 30 of the 1 000 have died. Three kinds of 
mulch were used—fine manure, whole corn stalks, 
and leaves. For some reasons, we prefer the stalks, 
though some of the best plants are those that have 
grown up through the mulch of fine manure. Every 
plant left without a mulch of some sort, has been 
thrown out of the ground. The largest and most 
vigorous plants are those set in frames. They stand 
in rows one foot apart, and six inches apart in the 
row. They have been heavily fed with fertilizers, and 
watered whenever necessary. They are now immense 
in size, and are loading themselves down with berries. 
It is a characteristic of the Parker Earle to set more 
fruit than it can mature w.th ordinary culture. This 
method of growing the plants close together in frames, 
enables one to supply all the food and water needed, 
and we shall endeavor to see just what the Parker 
Earle is capable of doing at its best. 
0 
BREVITIES. 
Let women wlio fight for female right 
On farm or in the town, 
Remember still that their measures will 
Turn things ail upside down. 
For this good old world has bravely whirled 
For ages on through space, 
With a settled plan that Mr. Man 
Was lord of all his race. 
You’ve lost the toss—the man is boss— 
It’s woman’s place to serve. 
He’s got things straight—it’s quite too late 
To pick up this new curve. 
Your women’s rights will bring funny sights. 
Oh ! IIow the world will look 
When women and cows shall run the plows, 
And men stay home and cook. 
The best tool is a cool head. 
A gold bug seems to be a “ chink” bug. 
Stop spraying when the trees begin to drip. 
Don't forget that the good man loves goodies. 
Hold the nozzle yourself, says Mr. Slingerland—correct. 
We have no use for bush Lima beans while we can obtain poles. 
Lady Thompson and Gandy strawberries are largely set by 
southern growers. 
All you can say for millet is that it is a substitute for hay. It 
is never the real article. 
Mr. Bailey (page 356) says, feed the Crimson clover and give it 
a fair start. He’s right. 
Where we want “long wind in the horse. Give us rapid 
walkers in place of fast talkers. 
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has already be¬ 
gun to arrange for the next year’s institutes. Good ! 
Read those figures of swill carrying, on page 350. How does 
this compare with the sum total of your wife’s visits to the hog 
pen ? 
Three parts sweet oil and one part standard carbolic acid, well 
mixed—we have never found a better dressing for cuts or sores on 
horses. 
Singular but true—the fact that you can travel three months in 
Europe for less money than you can in this country—with equally 
good accommodations. 
The oat “gets there.” Wheat has to be carried, page 353. The 
same distinctions are found in the human race. Oat eaters will 
beat white bread eaters ! 
The cow pea will be likely to do better on light than on heavy 
soils. Like rye, it will start on soils too poor to grow clover. 
Lime and potash will help it. 
Lots of American cows have suffered for lack of sunshine this 
past winter. Now they will get an overdose of it because there 
is no shade in the pasture. Better have it distributed. 
The Pennsylvania Railroad is said to have offered a prize of an 
annual pass over its lines to the farmer who, within a given time, 
will do most to beautify his grounds along the line. That’s a 
good thing. 
A southern reader is a little stirred up over the claim that 
crows live largely on worms. His question is: “Why did they 
bore holes in thousands of melons in this county, last year, look¬ 
ing lor worms ? ” 
One of our plots of Crimson clover looked, in early April, as 
though it had all been killed out. We left it just to see what it 
would do. To-day, the few plants left have grown so large that 
they cover two-thirds of the ground ! They will now be turned 
under for sweet corn. 
