58o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
August 29 
The Rural New=Yorker. 
THE BUSINESS FABM Eli S' FABER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
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 10)4 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 “ Adi'.," 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-ofliee 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, AUGUST 29, 1S96. 
The Rural New-Yorker will have a tent on the 
New York State Pair Grounds at Syracuse this year. 
We shall be pleased to meet all friends who can make 
it convenient to call and see us. Make The R. N.-Y. 
tent your headquarters while at the fair ! Leave your 
lunch basket or baggage ! Make yourself at home ! 
0 
You have, no doubt, already noticed by our an¬ 
nouncements—repeated, this week, on page 584—that 
we are willing to send The R. N.-Y. every week from 
now until January 1, for 25 cents, with special in¬ 
ducements to agents who get up clubs. You may be 
one of those who have no time or inclination to get 
up clubs, but you may have just one neighbor or 
friend who needs the paper. Send his name for the 
rest of the year. We would like to have every sub¬ 
scriber send just one “ trial ” for the rest of the year, 
if no more. Will you be one to do it ? 
© 
That plan of thrashing corn and oats at the same 
time, so that both grain and fodder are mixed—one in 
the bin and the other in the mow—is certainly a new 
idea. During the winter, the thrashed oat straw and 
stalks are cut up together and steamed before feed¬ 
ing. That ought to make a pretty good substitute 
for the silo. It is a good deal better than feeding dry 
straw and stalks. 
o 
We learn from some of our readers, that the old- 
time “ lightning-rod agents” have started on their 
travels in certain parts. People begin to ask why 
rods should be put on buildings, and what form of 
rod is most serviceable. In order to cover this de¬ 
mand, we shall give, next week, an article by Prof. 
W. A. Anthony, a noted electrical expert, which, we 
think, will make the matter very clear. 
0 
The hay crop in England is a failure—but little 
more than half an average. There ought to be a 
heavy demand, in England, for American hay. Clover 
sells best in the London market, and a bright, well- 
cured article will surely bring high prices. As noted 
in our reports, the American hay crop, particularly in 
dairy sections, is very light. There will not be any 
great scarcity of fodder, however, since the crop of 
corn is heavier than ever, while thousands of acres 
of millet and oats have been cut and cured for hay. 
More silos than ever will be used this year. In fact, 
so great is the supply of hay substitutes, that we think 
that the usual quantity of hay will be offered for sale. 
© 
“ Eagle Rock ” is a high point on the first range of 
the Orange Mountains in New Jersey, some 15 miles 
back from the ocean. On a clear day, one may stand 
on this rock and have within range of the naked eye, 
the homes of 5,000,000 people. This includes New 
York, Brooklyn, Jersey City, Newark, and 200 other 
towns and villages. It is said that there is but one 
other point in the world where one may cover more 
actual homes at a glance. It is an inspiring thought 
to have within range of the eye, and in this limited 
area, such a vast multitude of human beings. To 
realize what it means to look down upon such a gath¬ 
ering, we may say that the States of Oregon, Wash¬ 
ington, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, 
Colorado, Nebraska and the two Dakotas have a com¬ 
bined area of 1,012,082 square miles, yet contain fewer 
inhabitants than are to be found in this limited space 
within view of Eagle Rock. Ten miles to the west, 
on the other side of the mountain, is a genuine farm¬ 
ing country as truly agricultural in its appearance 
as one will find in Ohio or Michigan. One would say 
that the farmers within such a short distance of this 
wonderful group of 5,000,000 consumers ought to be 
the most prosperous farmers in the world. As a rule, 
they are milk producers, and most of them are only 
fairly well satisfied with their lot. 
© 
Farmers in some parts of the country have recently 
been victimized by a swindler with a double-ended 
fountain pen. Ostensibly, he wrote out a contract 
for the sale of farm machinery. This the farmer 
looked over, and finding it all right, signed it with the 
sharper’s pen. Rut while the pen holder was the 
same, the pen and writing were not; the contract 
was written with ink that soon faded out, leaving 
nothing but blank paper. Rut while the farmer’s 
attention was attracted, the swindler changed ends 
with the pen, and the farmer’s name was written 
with good ink that didn’t fade. Then the swindler 
had a blank sheet of paper with the victim’s genuine 
signature, and above this, he wrote a genuine promis¬ 
sory note in ink that didn’t fade. Reware of the 
stranger, for you, instead of him, are likely to be 
taken in. 
O 
This week, we give an account of another farm ice¬ 
cream business—this time in Michigan. It is not 
necessary to repeat the processes of making the 
cream, for this was fully explained last May in the 
story of the Manchester farm. It is comparatively 
easy to make the cream when all the materials are at 
hand ; but the hardest part of the business is to work 
up the trade. The Rartletts use printer’s ink where- 
ever and whenever it will do the most good. Here is 
a miniature copy of one of their circulars : 
ICE CREAM 
At Bottom Prices. 
To all Church Societies and Fraternal Organi¬ 
zations In Oakland County. 
We are making special inducements in ice 
cream for Socials, Festivals, etc., and will sup¬ 
ply all orders from any such societies at the 
following very reasonable rates, delivered at 
your nearest railroad station. Order what you 
think you will need, and if you use 
5 gallons we will charge you 80 c. per gallon. 
10 “ “ “ “ 75c. “ 
15 “ “ “ “ 70c. 
and should you have any left return it in 
good condition, and we will make no charge 
for same. You will pay return charges on 
cream and empty packages returned. 
The farmer who attempts to work up a trade in ice 
cream, will find it greatly to his advantage to patron¬ 
ize the local printer. This is an age of advertising, 
and well-displayed printer’s ink is the thing to warm 
up even so cold a thing as ice cream. 
O 
The army worm has come and gone. The cater¬ 
pillars that did so much damage are now sheltered 
under stones, boards, grass or rubbish along fences, 
or burrowed in the ground, passing through the pupa 
stage. We need not fear them again this season, but 
we may prevent future broods by killing all we can 
of this year’s crop. Wherever it is possible, burn 
over the grass or grain fields where the worms were 
seen. Burn along the fences and clean up the rub¬ 
bish. A heavy roller on level fields will kill many cf 
the worms. Where furrows were made to stop the 
worms, the grass and rubbish left at the sides should • 
be carefully burned or removed, for in such places are 
the worms likely to be found. The New York Experi¬ 
ment Station at Geneva, N. Y., has issued an excellent 
bulletin giving notes on the recent army worm inva¬ 
sion. It will pay you to send for it and give it a care¬ 
ful reading. 
O 
Mr. A. R. Eastman has written us several letters 
about the trouble he has had in securing a 1,000-mile 
coupon book from the D. L. & W. R. R. He gives the 
following as the latest development in the case : 
C. R. DeFreest, Secretary of the Board of Railroad Commission¬ 
ers, wrote me, July 20, that he was in receipt of a communication 
from the D. L. & W. Railroad Company assuring the Board that 
the mileage book law would be complied with, but that there 
might be a delay of one or two weeks in getting out the necessary 
books, but not longer. It lacks only three days of a month, and 
the books are not on sale as yet. I have written the Board again 
to certify this fact to the Attorney General, that the matter may 
be put into a channel where the current is so strong that the rail¬ 
road company dare not attempt to stem it. I have assurances 
from the Attorney General that he will enforce the law, and I am 
anxious that he shall have a chance, and purpose to stay by this 
matter until he does get it, or we get the mileage books. It looks 
mightily like a bluff on the part of the railroad company, and a 
lack of interest and push on the part of the Railroad Commis¬ 
sioners, else this farce would have been called off at the end of 
the first act. 
The R. N.-Y. is glad that Mr. Eastman has carried 
the matter so far, and we hope that he will stick to 
it until the mileage books are placed on sale. A 
little more such sticking on the part of our farmers 
will make a plaster that will draw such things to a 
head. The action of the railroads appears to be a 
clear defiance of the law, and they should be forced 
to carry out their legal obligations. 
0 
Prof. John Hamilton, Director of the Farmers 
Institutes in Pennsylvania, prescribes three topics 
which he says should be discussed at every institute 
held in Pennsylvania this season. These topics are : 
“Country Homes,” “Good Roads,” and “ The Educa¬ 
tion of the Farmer and His Children.” Under the 
head of “Country Homes,” a dozen subjects may be 
grouped, ranging all the way from house building to 
the kitchen garden. Under “ Education,” anything 
that has to do with the intellectual nature and devel¬ 
opment of country people may be discussed. It is 
suggested that, when the institute covers two days, 
the evening session of the first day be devoted to 
“Country Homes” under direction of the ladies. 
“Good Roads” may be discussed on the afternoon of 
the second day, while the last evening session may be 
devoted to “Education.” The object of this arrange¬ 
ment is to concentrate the winter’s discussions upon 
a few important topics, thus making the w T ork more 
effective. It is a good idea. 
© 
On page 574, the chemists intimate that there is 
something beyond a mere drying that takes place 
when grass is converted into hay. While the actual 
processes of “haymaking” have never been fully 
studied out, there is no doubt that chemical changes 
occur, and that the grass may lose more than the 
mere water that is dried out of it. It was this sug¬ 
gestion that led M. Goff art to experiment with ensi¬ 
lage. In walking over the hay field, he noticed the 
odor or fragrance in the air, and concluded that this 
must represent some valuable property that was lost 
out of the hay by curing. From that, he concluded 
to cut the whole green plant into the silo, and thus 
retain its full value. That is one great advantage in 
ensilage. We have no doubt that clover ensilage, cut 
and put into the silo under the best conditions, will 
yield considerably more food to the acre than the 
same made into good clover hay. The same is true 
of corn, and year by year, this fact is becoming more 
and more clear to stock farmers. 
© 
BREVITIES. 
I have often seen a ditcher toiling, slave-like with his spade, 
When he might have used a shovel as he struck an easy grade; 
For his spade was made for digging—not for shoveling the soil, 
Yet, somehow, he couldn’t see it, so be never checked his toil, 
Till the boss would come and punch him up and say, with 
language curt, 
Use that round-p'inted shovel when you run against that dirt!" 
We are; lots of ns, like ditchers—we go blundering through life, 
Using nothing but our spades to try to shovel out the strife; 
And we make a sorry job, sir, for the spade is far too small 
For our purpose; we grow weary and behind the race we fall. 
Use the spade to cut and dig with, but to move the dirt away, 
Use a big, round-pointed shovel, if you hope for time to play ! 
Save the apple pomace. 
Hurry up the hen moult. 
Read the fodder reports on page 584. 
The Carpet beetle needs a carpet beater. 
Prune that boy of idle and useless habits. 
Some cows are “ foundered ” by pounding. 
The pullet’s first egg is a miss laid article. 
Read about those rheumatic cows—page 577. 
Paris-green whitewash for potato beetles on tomatoes. 
The hen vs. the cow—see Mr. Chapman’s note on page 587. 
Consider the roots of the apjile tree, how they grow—and don’t 
cut them at the wrong time. 
We would like to eat a baked apple or a disli of applesauce 
with every meal in the year. 
Think of a car-load of Jersey cattle leaving Delaware County, 
N. Y., at $13 to $20 per head—page 584. 
It is a singular thing that lime on sour soils benefits sweet corn 
more than it does the ordinary field varieties. 
The hole within the hay mow made the farmer look forlorn. He 
sewed a patch upon the hole by sowing fodder corn. 
Read that cow dialogue on page 576. Very likely there is a man 
on your farm who knows those cows are talking right straight at 
him. 
It is fortunate that potato beetles do not often attack tomatoes 
in large numbers, for even the entomologists are puzzled as to 
how to fight them. 
The milk consumer has a right to demand that the milk he buys 
be clean, pure and unadulterated. Has he a right to go further 
and say how the dairyman must keep and test his cows ? 
Mr. Clark says that he can cure 15 tons of hay on an acre in 
two days. See how he does it—page 581. Is it the sun or the air 
that takes the moisture out of hay ? The air ! Can you get the 
air to circulate through a layer of hay two feet thick by shaking 
it up? Why not? 
A Newark commission man recently received a load of peaches. 
One lot of 37 baskets sold for $37. Another lot of 200 baskets sold 
for $50 ! The 200 baskets might have been packed and sorted so 
that 35 would have sold at 75 cents each, and the rest at 25. Who 
paid the difference ? The farmer ! 
The army worm has taught some farmers a lesson. Fields of 
green oats were threatened and in some cases, they were at once 
cut down and cured for hay. Such farmers now find that they 
have a lot of first-class fodder to help out the hay crop. The army 
worm may not come again soon, but don’t let them stop the oat- 
hay crop. 
