548 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 15 
The Rural New-Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FARMERS' PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established I860. 
Elbert S. Carman, Editor-In-Chief. 
Herbert W. Collinowood, Managing Editor. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
PRICE, ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d., or 8)4 marks, or 10V4 francs. 
ADVERTISING RATES. 
Thirty cents per agate line (14 lines to the Inch). Yearly orders 
of 10 or more lines, and 1,000-line orders, 25 cents per line. 
Reading Notices, ending with “Adv.," 75 cents per 
count line. Absolutely One Price Only. 
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 8tate, 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 *° THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
Corner Chambers and Pearl Streets, New York. 
SATURDAY, AUGUST. 15, 1896. 
WEATHER SIGNALS. 
Do you find the bulletins, or signals of the Govern¬ 
ment Weather Bureau, of any value in your work ? 
Have you made any fair comparisons to determine 
their accuracy ? As a farmer, would you regret to 
have this service discontinued ? To what extent do 
you guide your operations by this service ? There 
are four questions which we would like to have you 
answer. 
G 
Mr. G. M. Clark is right in saying that the bare, 
unseeded spots in a hay field repiesent the difference 
between a small yield and a large one. We do not 
believe that it is possible to cut four tons of hay from 
a field that was seeded with grain. If there are any 
such yields on record, we shall be pleased to hear of 
them. Of course, we do not mean irrigated fields, for 
almost anything is possible on a rich hay field that 
can be kept moist at just the right time. The 
problem for the grass grower is first to secure a per¬ 
fect stand. This can only be done by having the seed 
evenly scattered, and the soil so fine and rich, that 
enough of the seed will sprout and grow. 
Q 
The army worms have appeared in large numbers 
on several of the agricultural college farms. They 
did some damage because they came unawares, but 
were finally driven off. Several daily papers have 
thought it very smart to make fun of the agricultural 
colleges because this worm did damage on their farms. 
Do these papers suppose that the very name of these 
colleges will poison the worms ? Professors of agri¬ 
culture are not gifted with second sight, and cannot 
look ahead several years and tell when these worms 
are to appear. As a matter of fact, it is a good thing 
to have such attacks at the college, for it gives a 
chance to test remedies and advertise the results. 
© 
In recommending the Humboldt blackberry on ac¬ 
count of its earliness, A. L. W., on page 547, says that 
early blackberries always sell well. This is not 
always the case in this market. Each fruit has its 
season. Sometimes, fruits out of season, sell for ex¬ 
tremely high prices, and are in great demand. At other 
times, they come into contact with other seasonable 
fruits which take the preference. This often occurs 
with the earliest shipments of blackberries from the 
South, which reach here when strawberries, a superior 
fruit, have possession, and the inferior fruit suffers. 
Mere earliness doesn’£ cut so much of a figure as it 
did before the shipment of southern products to 
northern markets became such a feature. Quality 
and fine appearance are much more important. The 
late crops of so-called everbearing raspberries some¬ 
times come to market in late August or September, 
but are not sought. 
O 
During the slaughter of tuberculous animals at the 
Wisconsin Experiment Station, several animals that 
did not react were killed to see whether the tuber¬ 
culin test was absolutely accurate. One cow gave 
no reaction whatever, yet she had a tubercle in her 
lung that was fully encysted or covered with a hard 
growth so that it could not spread. Here was a cow 
that had consumption, yet had been practically cured 
of it. The lung had healed. Nature had covered 
that tubercle so that it was harmless. We hear of 
so-called consumption cures when persons mildly 
afflicted with the disease, go to live in drier or purer 
air, or receive improved care or nourishment. Prob¬ 
ably their lungs will show something of the condition 
of those of the cow. Nature stopped the spread of 
the disease by “ building a fence around it.” It seems 
to us very desirable to conduct experiments to show 
how tuberculous cows can be improved by sanitary 
treatment. One objection to the tuberculin test is 
that it is too fine. It makes little difference between 
a cow nearly dead with the disease, and one so slightly 
affected, that it is likely to live a dozen years, with 
good treatment. There is wide room for argument as 
to whether every cow that reacts from tuberculin, 
should be killed at once. We doubt it. 
o 
On the first page, C. W. Scarflf speaks of different 
methods of disposing of young calves, but doesn’t 
mention the way many dairymen near New York have 
of getting rid of their superfluous calves. It’s a dis¬ 
graceful way, however, and, perhaps, it may be said 
that the less said about it the better. But we don’t 
think so ; we think that it should be ventilated and 
denounced on every possible occasion, and a public 
sentiment created that will eventually lead to the 
abandonment of the practice. We refer to the traffic 
in bob veals which are totally unfit for human food. 
They are sent to this market by hundreds, in spite of 
boards of health, inspectors, and what not, before 
they are hardly old enough to stand firmly on their 
own legs. The writer of this has seen them by the 
dozen that wouldn’t weigh over 25 or 30 pounds each, 
and saw one that weighed less than 20 pounds. It’s a 
disgraceful business. 
O 
Some years ago, a farmer in Westchester County, 
N. Y., seeded a large meadow to grass. It was well 
started, and, at first, produced good crops. The hay 
has been cut year after year, and fed to stock—the 
manure going to the corn field each spring. Natur¬ 
ally, under this system, the grass crop has grown 
smaller and smaller, until now it averages but little 
over one ton to the acre. Here is a chance to put 
Mr. Clark’s plan into operation. The meadow can be 
broken up this fall and reseeded so as to produce a 
good crop next year. When once well seeded, it can 
be kept growing by fertilizers. This will mean more 
grass, more manure, more corn and more manure for 
other crops. Or, the hay might be sold and fertilizers 
bought to grow ensilage corn. A big crop of ensilage 
corn, where the cows are well bedded, will provide 
more manure than is required for another crop, if a 
fair quantity of fertilizer be used in the hill or drill. 
© 
We can readily understand the position taken by 
the station directors, who state their views regarding 
the analysis of fertilizers on page 542. Naturally, 
no station chemist would be willing to make an 
analysis of any commercial fertilizer, the results of 
which would be likely to be made public, who did 
not take the sample himself from goods on the gen¬ 
eral market, or have it taken by an authorized person. 
Such sample is always sealed up and labeled in the 
presence of a witness, otherwise the results would be 
of no use as evidence in a lawsuit. In such a case as 
we have mentioned, viz., where the farmer suspected 
the quality of a certain lot of fertilizer, we do not 
see that analyses of the same brand sampled else¬ 
where would be of service to him. We do not see, 
either, why in such a case, the chemist should know 
the brand or maker beforehand. In fact, if he is sure 
that the sample was honestly selected, we would 
think it best for him not to know these things. We 
regard it as unfortunate that, in such a case, the 
farmer could not secure his analysis. It would have 
been of more practical help to him than the tables in 
the station reports, and we would like to have some 
plan devised that would cover and provide for such 
cases. 
© 
Last week we referred to the fact that the Borough 
of Columbia, Pa., had resolved to keep out of the 
town all milk from non-tested cows. Here is a copy 
of the resolution which was passed July 7 : 
Resolved, That the Board of Health be instructed to require all 
persons who furnish milk to people of Columbia, to present a 
certificate to the Health Officer from the State Veterinary Surgeon, 
or some one deputized by him, setting forth that their herds are 
free from tuberculosis. The certificates are required to be in the 
hands of the Health Officer on or before the 15th day of August, 
1896, and the names of all who comply and of all who fail to com¬ 
ply, shall be reported to the Columbia Borough Council at the 
next meeting, and the names of all shall be published in the news¬ 
papers of Columbia. 
While this does not state, in so many words, that the 
cows must be tested with tuberculin, it is well under¬ 
stood that the State Veterinarians will demand that 
test. We understand that dairymen who supply milk 
to Columbia are divided in their opinion regarding 
this matter. The majority of them are angry, 
evidently, and maintain that the town government 
has no right to pass such a resolution. They threaten 
to boycott the town. It is certain that, were these 
dairymen to refuse to have their cows tested, Colum¬ 
bia people would be likely to go without milk. The 
proportion of tested cows in the country is quite 
small, and were such a resolution enforced in every 
town and city of the country, milk “ would go to a 
premium” and be worth far more than it ever was be¬ 
fore—for there would not be half enough of it to go 
around. 
© 
A seed firm in western New York is sending wagons 
through the country advertising seeds, and offering 
to put up round or tub silos for farmers. One of our 
readers describes this silo as follows : 
The silo they erect is built of pine about two inches thick, 
grooved or matched. On the ends of the staves, where more than 
one length is required for the height of the silo, a piece of iron is 
used, by sawing into the end of each piece. They use heavy iron 
hoops and screws that may be tightened as required. Coal tar is 
used in putting it together, and a metal roof also. A silo 12 feet 
in diameter and 20 feet in height, is put up for $72, which seems 
very reasonable. 
As we understand it, this company will build the silo 
and take a farmer’s note for one year in payment. 
We are investigating this manner of doing business, 
and shall, doubtless, have more to say about it. As 
to the value of a “ tub” silo, reports are largely in its 
favor. Here is a note from Prof. Clinton of Cornell, 
that is worth reading : 
This price for putting up the silo of the dimensions given, can 
be lowered by any farmer. There is not the slightest necessity 
for having the staves grooved. The success of the tub silo is 
unquestioned. I have just visited one that has been in use the 
past year, and the ensilage kept perfectly. The dimensions of 
this one are 13 feet diameter by 30 feet high. The charges made 
against the tub silo that it will fail to pieces in the summer, I 
found utterly false, for this one was standing in good condition. 
1 shall recommend the building of tub silos as being the best and 
cheapest for the farmer. 
It was but a few years ago that most of our ensilage 
authorities were emphatic in saying that the “tub” 
silo was a complete failure. We should hear from 
them now. 
0 
BREVITIES. 
VACATION. 
Some fellers take vacation by a runnin’ from the farm; 
They git all hot an’ tuckered out—it never had no charm 
Fer me—ter put on Sunday clo’es an’ wander up an’ down, 
Ail harnessed up to worry’s cart—let others go to town, 
But I’ll take my vacation right to home—I’ll boot old care 
Right off the place, and sorter mount that liammick over there. 
I’ll peel my coat, an’ visit good with mother in the shade, 
A brushin’ up our courtin’ days—an’ drinkin’ lemonade. 
I’ll take two weeks an’ work or not, jest as I wanter do. 
I’ll go off fishin’ if I want, or play a game or two 
Of ball—I’ll jest lay off, that’s all—that’s good enough for me, 
Right here to home where everything is easy like, and free. 
Let them go off that can’t git through the year without a change! 
I’m too good natured to complain—all is, I call it strange. 
It’s “ every man unto his taste,” that’s true as I’ll agree, 
But my vacation on this farm is good enough for me. 
Analyze the lie. 
The New Life pea—page 547. 
Read the silo notes—page 555. 
Make a move out of that groove. 
Wuo kicks the cow hard ? The coward. 
Read the experiment with peas—page 547. 
Re-veal the veal by killing the scrub bull. 
The horse is an artist when he draws flies. 
Read the note on “Blood Purifiers,” page 543. 
The cow peas are growing faster than the weeds. 
Mr. Skngek makes good points for simple science. 
The Keiffer pear crop is, apparently, short this year. 
Be a soil tiller, not a soil killer. Soap is a soil killer. 
How about fertilizers on wheat ? Do you use them as formerly ? 
Why, or why not 1 
You can’t beat this season for Crimson clover sowing. We have 
a small patch up. 
Bolt, if you must, but don’t flop. A chicken with its head cut 
off is the ideal flopper. 
Self-praise never pays; advertise yourself, first you know, back 
you go on the farthest shelf. 
“ The fate of the calf.” Shall it be veal or cow ? The quicker 
the scrub is vealed the better. 
Education costs money. Will you pay for it willingly, or have 
it dug out of you by “ experience ” ? 
Potatoes are blighting badly in many places. Will the rot be 
serious enough to affect the price ? It looks so. 
Can’t you find a way out through “ a jar of jelly ” ? Possibly, 
good preserves will jam that mortgage off the farm. 
How to kill woodchucks that live in stone walls! That informa¬ 
tion will make glad the hearts of some of our readers. 
A lazy man can raise 10,000,000 stout weed seeds in his back 
yard, and 50 smart men may not be able to kill all the weeds that 
grow from them. 
Oh, where are the reapers that garner in the sheaves of grain ? 
It would be a sin to leave them out in the sun and rain. They 
should be under the shed again. 
People like their best strawberries for supper. Have pickers 
enough to pick all the fruit before noon, and then have it dis¬ 
tributed before supper. You must be close to town to do it, but it 
will pay. 
It is a sin to substitute some old, back-numbered tree or fruit, 
when some one orders novelties—they may not know good chalk 
from cheese, but that gives you no fair solution out of the crime 
of substitution. 
The stories about the army worms are frightening many 
farmers. One man in Connecticut has a field of ensilage corn, 
and at the first sign of the worm, he purposes to cut the corn into 
the silo, even though it be but half matured. This, we think, 
would be a mistake, unless he is short handed, and feels that he 
cannot fight the worms successfully. 
