4o4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
JuneJ 13 
The Rural New=Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Established 1850. 
Hubert S. Cabman, Edltor-ln-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collengwood, Managing Kditor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
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able 40 THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets. New York. 
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1896. 
On the next page, will be found a review of some of 
the wire pulling that led up to the nomination of the 
New York Commissioner of Agriculture. There is a 
nice condition of affairs ! If this article does injustice 
to any of the parties named in it, we shall be pleased 
to give them a chance to state their side of the case. 
© 
The latest advertisement is “a stick of fertilizer” 
for use in irrigation. A stick of compressed chemicals 
about the size of a corn cob, is attached to the nozzle 
of a hose, so that it dissolves in the water as it passes 
through. Of course this is suitable only for small 
gardens or lawns, or for greenhouse work ; yet it is a 
singular illustration of the progress of chemical 
manuring. 
® 
Prof. S. W. Johnson, in the last Connecticut Sta¬ 
tion report, adds considerable weight to the argu¬ 
ment that many soils need regular applications of 
lime. Some soils are naturally deficient in lime, and 
others become “ sour ” from various causes. In all 
such cases, lime will help, not so much as direct plant 
food, but because of its action upon the soil. A farmer 
may use it for much the same reason that he salts the 
sheep at pasture. lie does not expect the sheep to 
fatten on the salt; yet he Knows that it will enable 
them to obtain more benefit from the pasture. 
© 
In 1892, Prof. Hailey, of Cornell, planted 16 varie¬ 
ties of southern cow peas to determine their value as 
a catch crop in northern orchards. The Black and 
Whippoorwill varieties seemed best adapted to the 
latitude of Ithaca, N. Y., and the Black, even when 
sown as late as July 17, on rich soil, made a heavy 
growth, covering the ground. It is evident that these 
peas will make a fair growth on soil that is too poor 
to grow clover. The vines compare favorably with 
clover in chemical analysis ; yet Prof. Bailey con¬ 
cluded from the trial, that the cow pea could hardly 
be recommended as an orchard cover so far north, 
since the vines afford so little protection to the soil 
after the leaves fall off. Of course, this objection 
would not hold where the vines are grown as a green 
manure, to be plowed under in the fall, or as a pasture 
for hogs. The fact that the cow peas will grow far 
North, is encouraging to those who desire to experi¬ 
ment with this plant. The R. N.-Y. grew cow peas 
15 years ago, on Long Island. Next week, we shall 
give the substance of its experiments. 
© 
The R. N.-Y., of May 30, referred to the analyzing 
of a large number of samples of butter under direction 
of the British Board of Agricultuie, of which all 
those from the United States and some other countries, 
were pronounced pure, and those from a number of 
other countries, including Holland and Denmark, 
were pronounced more or less adulterated. It is now 
claimed that the English chemists were mistaken so 
far as they had to deal with the Dutch butter. The 
authorities of Holland, according to a contributor in 
the New York Produce Review, claim that during 
certain seasons of the year, notably the closing 
months of the year, it is impossible, in Holland, to 
produce butter of a high standard, local conditions 
causing those fats peculiar to butter to show less, 
thus giving resemblance to foreign fats. It was dur¬ 
ing these months that the larger number of adultera¬ 
tions were found. Still, in the butter from Norway 
and Sweden, very few adulterations were discovered. 
The writer referred to claims that such adulterations 
would be simply impossible in Denmark, as the gov¬ 
ernment has complete control of all manufacturing 
of both butter and oleomargarine. Also, that the but¬ 
ter from cows long in milk is not of so fine a quality, 
and that such cows predominate in Denmark in the 
fall, more than in any other country. So there you 
have it ! Are these analyses conclusive, or are they 
not? Are peculiar properties present or lacking in 
butter, which the chemists cannot distinguish ? In 
short, what is the peculiar element that makes 
butter “good”? 
© 
We find that a good many poultrymen are experi¬ 
menting with dried blood as a substitute for cut bone 
or meat in compounding a poultry ration. At Ellers- 
lie Farm, this blood has been used for laying hens 
and for broilers, and the results have been very satis¬ 
factory. One great advantage is that the dried blood 
is uniform in composition. It does not vary as do 
many of the samples of the dried and ground meat, 
and the per cent of muscle-makers is very high. It 
was thought, at one time, that the dried blood would 
not be a safe food for animals, as it might convey the 
germs of disease, or contain injurious substances. 
That is a mistake, for the blood is cooked at a tem¬ 
perature high enough to destroy disease germs, and is 
simply dried and ground without mixing with chemi¬ 
cals. We are informed that dried blood is fed to the 
best horses in the German army, the principle effects 
noticed being an increase in spirit, and a glossy, shin¬ 
ing coat. It seems probable that, within a few years, 
the feeding of dried blood and tankage to hogs will 
become common in the West. These products will go 
well with corn to form a “balanced ration,” and we 
believe that many feeders will find it very profitable 
to use them. 
O 
There is another good argument in favor of high- 
class stock in that article on the first page. Here is a 
man who wants to keep only the stock that he can care 
for himself. In order to make that system a success, 
every animal must be a good one. If a man plan to 
sell two tons of butter in a year, it will make a great 
difference whether there are 12 or 25 cows to make it 
for him. With 12 cows, he might do the work in his 
own family ; with 25 cows, he must hire help and give 
extra feed. Twenty-five cows mean 100 feet and legs, 
while 12 animals require only 48. To produce the 
butter with the poorer cows, requires twice the mus¬ 
cular energy, and twice the money spent for a mere 
“ maintenance ration ” or the food required simply to 
keep the animal alive. Manufacturing has become 
profitable in proportion as machines have been in¬ 
vented which enable one man to turn out an increased 
amount of finished goods, and thus save the wages 
formerly paid for hand labor. In like manner, live¬ 
stock farming is prosperous in proportion as the 
farmer is able to increase the product from the in¬ 
dividual animal, and thus save the labor required to 
care for the surplus animal, and the food required to 
feed it. Of course we are speaking now only of the 
one side of production, and not of the troubles that 
are found when the producer attempts to sell his 
product. 
Q 
The American Agriculturist is a paper printed in 
Massachusetts and “ published ” in a dozen or more 
places. Its editor seems to feel that the fact that his 
compare hires office rooms in various parts of the 
country, qualifies him to lay down the law to farmers 
everywhere. Here is a sample of his wisdom regard¬ 
ing the New York State Commissioner of Agriculture: 
Much indignation is expressed by many fanners, and especially 
by Patrons, at the denunciation of Gov. Morton for appointing as 
Commissioner of Agriculture, Charles A. Wieting, of Cobleskill, 
Schoharie County, expressed by the Country Gentleman and 
Rural New-Yorker. Not content with stating that Mr. Wieting 
had no support from the farmers, and that his appointment was 
a pure'y political one, these papers attack his fitness for the posi¬ 
tion. They condemn him before he has had a chance to sho w what 
he can do. The fact is, Mr. Wieting was the Grange candidate, 
and this organization is now strong enough to make or break any 
candidate for positions pertaining to agriculture. The Grange 
will also be prompt to criticise and correct the new Commissioner 
if he make mistakes or prove incompetent. In their desire to 
serve the kid-gloved farmers, the papers referred to have long 
ignored the Grange and other organizations that are striving to 
help the great body of practical working farmers. American 
Agriculturist cannot, however, devote its space to printing the 
letters it has received condemning the policy of these papers. 
One answer to the American Agriculturist and the 
“ many farmers,” will be found on our next page. If 
this does not cover the political side of the ease, we 
can, doubtless, furnish a stronger dose. As to the 
question of Mr. Wieting's fitness for the position, The 
R. N.-Y. has purposely refrained from printing the 
facts about that side of the case. We are not disposed 
to hamper his work, or to place obstacles in his way. 
He has a chance such as is given to few men, to rise to 
the occasion and show the public what he is made of. 
The R. N.-Y. has charged that his appointment was 
the result of a mere political deal, and that the real 
interests of the New York State farmers were never 
seriously considered in making it. The Agriculturist 
puts the members of the Grange in a most unfortu¬ 
nate position, unless it can disprove the facts stated 
on the next page ; because it is clear that most of 
those who “ demanded ” Mr. Wieting, were duped by 
a few clever politicians. Until he can disprove these 
facts, the public will be apt to conclude that the 
editor of the Agriculturist either doesn’t know what 
he is talking about, or else he was a partner in this 
political deal! 
© 
The National Provisioner of this city, is the cham¬ 
pion of bogus butter. In order to make a point 
against the laws restricting the sale of “ oleo,” it 
attempts this comparison : 
California wine growers claim to produce a wine equal to the 
imported article ; such may or may not be the case ; but how 
would it be if we insisted that California wines shall be distin¬ 
guished by coloring or otherwise, so as to exclude any possibility 
of selling same for Bordeaux, or sherry, or port wine, or as Ilock- 
heimer, Tokay or under any other name but that which would 
make it known as California wine ! We could also demand that 
California wines pay a special tax of 10 cents per gallon, and that 
California wines shall not be sold in stores where imported wines 
are sold ; further, that in every bar-room or restaurant or board¬ 
ing-house into which California wine finds its way, this fact shall 
be made known by displaying prominent signs to that effect. 
Now what nonsense that is ! It is not a parallel case 
at all, unless the California wines are adulterated. 
If the Californians mixed a lot of cheap fruit acids 
together, and called it “ wine,” the product would 
represent to pure wine, just what “oleo” does to pure 
butter. Pure grape juice is another thing. Differ¬ 
ences in its quality depend upon different climates 
and methods of culture, and different methods of 
handling. The same is true of butter, for some sweet, 
mountain grasses will make a finer flavor than the 
coarser herbage of low countries, while it is evident 
that a skilled buttermaker can produce better butter 
from a given lot of cream than an apprentice can. 
There are laws now to prevent a buttermaker or a 
winemaker from using another’s trade mark to deceive 
the people. All admit the justice of such laws, and 
it is equally just to prevent a dealer who attempts to 
palm off cheap fats or cheap acids for the real articles. 
© 
BREVITIES. 
I’m glad ye got back, Mary—yes, I done the best I could 
To keep things runnin’ smooth while you was gone ; 
But there aint no gettin’ ’round it—run as easy as I could, 
This home, when you aint in it, is forlorn. 
It’s awful good to see ye—settin’ over in yer place 
With baby—yes, I’m awful glad you’ve come, 
It’s mighty good to read it, shinin’ right out of yer face, 
“ The best part of a visit’s gettin' home /” 
The days wentsorter draggin’—sorter creepin’, crawlin’ through. 
The evenins’ was so lonesome, I can say, 
To set here jest a thinkin’, an’ a wearyin’ fer you, 
An’ countin’ up yer cornin’ day by day. 
But now the visit’s over, an’ we got ye home at last, 
Ye look more like a sweetheart than a wife ; 
An’ baby’s growed so cunnin’, an’ he’s put on flesh so fast ! 
I never was so happy in my life ! 
Off with the bull’s horns. 
Don’t drink to stifle think. 
Wanted : Uniform caustic potash—page 411. 
The only thing that can afford to wait is right ! 
Read Mr. Woodward’s Crimson clover report—page 400. 
A robin will spoil more strawberries than any 12-year-old boy. 
What stock would you keep if you undertook to farm without 
the hired man ? 
Buy an ice cream freezer for your wife, and then sit down and 
turn it for her. 
Once more we say, Put vaseline in your nose when working or 
riding in the dust. 
A tight collar will give a horse an attack of “ blind staggers.” 
Keep your own collar loose. 
This year makes the third dry May some meadows have experi¬ 
enced. This one has about made an end of them. 
Don’t attempt to tell an amateur that spraying is a clean job. 
It is dirty business at best—worse than whitewashing. 
Sound money, sound men, and sound morals. By “sound” 
men, we don’t mean the kind that make the most noise. 
It is said that certain epicures abroad consider the big combs 
of poultry dainty and nourishing food. “ Every man to his 
taste !” 
A farmer who once uses the Thoroughbred flint corn for ensi¬ 
lage, generally sticks to this variety. It is “ all leaves and ears 
and no butt,” as one said recently. 
Encouraging ! The fact that breeders are overhauling the 
scale of points of the various breeds, and giving more attention 
to the parts that denote vigor and strength. 
Many sheep men have lost the clover hay crop. Clover is the 
best sheep fodder. What comes nearest to being a good substi¬ 
tute for it? Wanted—something to sow now! 
When a man stands up for an old-time principle, it is a popular 
thing to say that he is too “ narrow.” Very well—which is more 
likely to go wrong, the man who is too narrow, or the one who is 
too “ broad ” ? 
We find more and more New England farmers who are feeding 
grain hay—rye and oats cut in the milk, and cured like grass. 
There is about as much butter in a ton of well-cured oats as there 
is in a ton of Timothy hay, and many more tons to the acre. 
If thou the woodchuck’s life would surely win, mark well his 
hole and see him enter in ; wrap ’round a stone a piece of cotton 
wool, and with bisulphide carbon fill it full. Then down the 
entrance let the whole thing roll. That “chuck” no more will 
chuckle iu his bole. 
A“Maud Muller Matinee” is the latest game for society women. 
A company of them go into a hay field, and see which one can 
rake up the largest pile. The winner is crowned “Queen of the 
Hay !” While these “ butterflies” are thus disporting, hundreds 
of genuine farm women will be at work in the hay field driving 
the rake or even the mower. 
