1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
67 
Events of the Week. 
DOMESTIC.—Fire a t Chelsea. Mass., January 12, de¬ 
stroyed the Academy of Music, the only playhouse in (lie 
citv, rendering at least 30 families homeless, endangering 
the lives of more than r>0 people, throwing the inhabitants 
of the city into a state of fear and excitement, and causing 
a loss of'about .$250,000. . . . Gessler Rosseau, whose 
antecedents are a mystery and who is the man who in May, 
1903, sent an infernal machine to the Cttnard Line pier in 
New York where the Umbria then was berthed, was arrested 
in Philadelphia, I’a., January 13. An infernal machine with 
all wires connected was discovered by the detectives in a tele¬ 
scope carried by the prisoner, lie admits that his purpose 
was to blow ui>' English ships. lie is the man who recently 
attempted to destroy tlie statue of Frederick the Great in 
Washington. . . . The Corn Products Company's big 
stanh plant at Oswego, N. Y., caught lire January 13 and 
suffered a loss of $150,000 before the flames were extin¬ 
guished. Scores of men and women were at work in the 
building and there were many narrow escapes, but only one 
was seriously hurt. A year ago a starch factory located on 
the same site was destroyed, the loss being $300,000. . . . 
A bill was introduced in (lie lower branch of the Massachu¬ 
setts Legislature January 12 to prohibit corporations from 
making contributions for political purposes, and providing 
tines and imprisonment as penalties for violations of the pro¬ 
posed law. . Charles Lawton Work, the onetime 
prominent Philadelphia yachtsman, was arrested January 13 
and held in $2,500 bail for examination January 28. He is 
charged with using the United States mails to further a 
gigantic get-rich-quick swindle. Five years ago Work and 
J Wells Levitt, alias Eugene Reyenthaler, conducted, it is 
alleged, the "Investors’ Trust," with offices at 1221 Arch 
street. Philadelphia. Hundreds fell victims to the "Trust's” 
alluring promises of speedy wealth, and the crash of the con¬ 
cern in 1890 meant the wiping out of many hard-earned bank 
accounts. The Investors' Trust was supposed to run a dis¬ 
cretionary pool in stock speculation. Inside information on 
important and lucrative stock manipulation was claimed, and 
profits of fj-om 15 to 20 per cent a month were promised. 
Investments of less than $2f> were not considered: invest¬ 
ments of less than 8100 were considered as "flyers" only, be¬ 
cause, as the circulars of the concern stated, "there is no 
protit to us in sums less than $100." In May. 1900. Work 
and Levitt were indicted by the United States Grand Jury 
in the Eastern District, of Pennsylvania. Three counts were 
returned against them. Work and Levitt evaded arrest, flee¬ 
ing to Europe with, it is alleged, about $500,000. Levitt is 
•qill there, it is believed. Work returned a few weeks ago. 
The Pathfinder irrigation project on the North Platte 
Itiver in Wvoming and Nebraska has been definitely decided 
upon, and it is now announced that actual construction will 
begin on the great dam near Alcova on February 1. This is 
the greatest scheme of reclamation ever undertaken by the 
National Government. If involves the construction of irri¬ 
gation works of vast extent, including three permanent dams, 
two temporary diversion dams, three outlet tunnels through 
solid rock formations and several great distributing canals— 
nil these being built at different points along the Platte with¬ 
in a distance of 210 miles. ... Six miners were burned 
to death and as many more are missing ns the result of a fire 
in the mines of the Decatur Coal Company. Decatur. Ill.. 
January 16. . . . The Anti-Cigarette law of Iowa was 
affirmed January 16 by' the Supreme Court in the cases 
brought by agents of the American Tobacco Company, on the 
ground that it was an attempt on the part of the State to 
interfere with interstate commerce. The cigarettes were 
shipped in the usual small boxes, containing 10 each, which 
ii was asserted covers original packages, and were shovelled 
into tDo car in bulk and unloaded in the same way. On the 
basis of the courts decision in the Tennessee law. which it 
affirmed, it held that, like that case, this was too palpable an 
effort to evade the law to invoke the interstate commerce 
clause Besides, the small boxes were not. the original pack¬ 
ages in which cigarettes were usually shipped from State to 
sTate Justice White concurred in the opinion, and Chief 
Justice Fuller and Justices Brewer and Peckliam dissented. 
The Postal Progress League, at its meeting in Cooper 
Union New York. January 13. was informed by Chairman 
Post of Battle Creek, Mich., that lie had prepared papers 
and ’would ask the United Stales Supreme Court for a re¬ 
straining order to prevent Senator Thomas C. Platt from tak¬ 
ing his seat, because of his position as president of the 
United States Express Company, which renders him inimical 
to postal reform. 
HAITI—Mr Powell, the American Minister, has informed 
the Government of Haiti that the United States Government 
refuses to recognize the validity of the sentence in contumacy 
of 15 years’ imprisonment at hard labor pronounced by the 
Haitian court on Jaeger Huber, an American citizen, for al¬ 
leged complicity in the bond frauds charged against the ad¬ 
ministration of ex-President Sam and officers of the Bank of 
Haiti 'Hie United States demands the annulment of the sen¬ 
tence, under pain of energetic intervention. The alleged 
frauds were in connection with a plan of the Sam adminis¬ 
tration for consolidating tlie debt of the Republic. Before 
the refunding scheme was consummated the administration 
of Sam was overthrown, and President Nurd caused the arrest 
of thirty-three persons, including members of the Sam Cabinet 
and officers of the Bank of Haiti, on charges of conspiracy 
and the fraudulent issue of from 8609.000 t<> $8.61.000 of 
bonds When the trial began last November 28. only 13 of 
the defendants were present, the others having fled the 
country. 
MEXICO.—From the State of Campeche comes the news 
that a great army of black ants is marching over the Ohampo- 
ton district of that State, and that the inhabitants are fleeing 
before them. The insects are of the species known as 
"pirinolas,” and their poison is extremely painful. They are 
destroying growing crops, and a number of human beings and 
scores' of animals are reported to have fallen victims to their 
bites. Portions of the Cbampoton district, which lies along 
the Gulf of Campeche, have been entirely deserted, and work 
of all kinds throughout the entire district has been sus¬ 
pended. It is said that the ants appear every 10 years. 
Where they come from and where they go when they disap¬ 
pear arc unsolved problems. 
FARM AND GARDEN. Charles W. Anderson. New York 
State Supervisor of Racing Accounts, having within his jur¬ 
isdiction the racing associations receiving licenses from the 
State Racing Commission, has made bis seventh annual 
report to the State Comptroller. It shows that for the sea¬ 
son which closed on November 15 last the gross receipts of 
these associations were 83.805,126.01. and the tax thereon, 
which goes to the agricultural societies in this State, was 
$190,256.30. These receipts are. with the exception of one 
single year, the largest in the history of racing in this coun¬ 
try. and the tax and the benefits to the agricultural societies 
rank correspondingly. 
Railroads will not bo admitted this year to membership i i 
the National Live Stock Association on account of great oppo¬ 
sition to that part of the plan of reorganization. The gen¬ 
eral committee considering the reorganization reported to the 
convention January 13. and the majority report opposed the 
plan in so far as it applies to railroads. A minority report, 
favoring the proposition was also submitted. The strong feel¬ 
ing which many of the cattlemen harbor against the rail¬ 
roads was voiced January 12 in an address by S. II. Cowan, 
of Fort Worth. Texas. Mr. Cowan declared the railroads 
in Texas had increased their rates on cattle, within the last 
two years from 20 to 30 tier cent. The existing interstate 
commerce law had been of great value, he declared, and lie 
was opposed to the enactment of a new statute which might 
destroy the benefits derived from the present law. The Texas 
delegation threatened to withdraw if the roads were admitted 
to membership. 
The Society for Horticultural Science met at Philadelphia. 
I’a., during the annual meeting of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science on December 17 last, and 
had a very successful gathering. One of the sessions took 
the form of a union meeting with the Society for Promoting 
Agricultural Science, and the addresses of the two presidents 
were listened to by the combined audiences. Election of offi¬ 
cers resulted as follows: President. L. II. Bailey : secretary- 
treasurer, V. A. Clark; assistant secretary. IT. P. Hedrick. 
W. It. I.azenby is made chairman of the executive committee. 
The Wisconsin State Horticultural Society will bold its an 
nual convention at Madison, February 7 to 11. There is an 
interesting programme. 
The Tennessee State Horticultural Society was organized 
at Nashville recently, N. W. Hale presiding.’ 
A mass meeting of the fruit growers of the Hood River 
Valley appointed a committee of three to confer with Repre¬ 
sentative A. A. Jayne concerning proposed legislation for the 
protection of the fruit industry in Oregon. The committee 
consists of E. L. Smith, president < " the State Board of 
Horticulture: A. I. Mason, president of the Hood River Apple 
Growers’ Union, and G. R. Castner. The appointment of 
county horticultural inspectors was recommended. Other 
resolutions provided for the exclusion <f wormy apples from 
the markets: that nurserymen be compelled to give bonds 
tliat their trees are true to name: that the special and stand¬ 
ard boxes be made the legal bushel box of Oregon, and the 
use of any other size prohibited; that some effort lie made 
to prevent the sale of fruit from one district under the name 
of another. 
Henry I. Budd. Commissioner of Roads of New Jersey and 
secretary of the New Jersey State Horticultural Society, died 
January 14 at bis home in Ml. Holly, N. .1.. after an illness 
of a week. He was 6!) years of age and leaves a widow and 
two daughters. He was appointed Commissioner of Roads by 
Gov. Worts in 1895 and was successively reappointed by Govs. 
Griggs. Voorhees and Murphy. He was a stanch advocate of 
the good roads movement and was largely instrumental in 
the enactment of the New Jersey State aid for roads. Under 
his administration more than 1,000 miles of State and county 
roads were built. 
The American Breeders' Association will! bold its annual 
meeting at Champaign. III.. February 1-3. 
The thirtieth annual meeting of the Ayrshire Breeders’ 
Association will be held in Chipman Hall, Tremont. Temple, 
Boston. Mass., February 8. 
Tlie twenty-first annual meeting of the Cheshire Swine 
Breeders was held at Ithaca. N. Y.. January 10. The secre¬ 
tary's and treasurer’s report showed an increase in member¬ 
ship. and that the society is in good financial standing, with 
a. cash balance on hand. In the general discussion tHe point 
was strongly brought out that the best success in selling 
was attained through the medium of advertising in the lead¬ 
ing agricultural papers: also that it would be a benefit both 
to the publisher and advertiser if tin 1 inquirer would always 
state in what pa tier he saw the advertisement. It was voted 
to make an exhibit at the Chicago International Fat Stock 
Exhibition of Cheshires in 1905, several members contributing 
animals to be fitted for the exhibit. The following officers 
were elected: (‘resident. .1. II. Gleason. New Milford. I’a.: 
vice president. It. D. Button. Canastota. X. Y. : directors, II. 
.1. Brown, Harford. N. Y. : B. B. Badger. Ouaquaga. N. Y.; 
Charles Sorenson. Xysted. Neb.: S. G. Otis, Sherwood, N. Y. ; 
E. S. Hill, Freeville, N. Y.. secretary and treasurer. 
In the agricultural department at the World's Fair at 
St. Louis New York stands first in the number and value of 
the prizes, medals and awards received. Among the sub¬ 
jects of grand prizes received were wheat, collection of 
grains, garden, field and flower seeds, canned and preserved 
fruits, wines and champagnes, manufactured tobacco. There 
were seven grand prizes given on fresh vegetables. New York 
taking the entire seven. The grand prize banner offered by 
the National Butter Makers’ Association for the highest aver¬ 
age score on butter, was also taken by New York. The total 
number of awards received by New York State in the agricul¬ 
tural department was 840. being more than were received by 
any other State in this department and more than New York 
received at both the Chicago and Buffalo Expositions com¬ 
bined. This result should be pleasing to the agriculturists of 
the State and shows what New York can do when it makes 
the proper effort. _ 
THE FENCE WIRE PROBLEM DISCUSSED . 
Pure Zinc for Galvanizing. 
While the lack of durability of galvanized wire, etc., is no 
doubt due in part to the scantiness of the modern coating. I 
believe that a very important factor is the purity of the 
spelter used for coating. A simple experiment, which is 
familiar to students in chemistry, will illustrate this point. 
1’lace a piece of chemically pure zinc in a glass, and a piece 
of commercial zinc in another. Now on adding dilute sul¬ 
phuric acid to each, it will lie observed that the commercial 
zinc is rapidly attacked and dissolved, while the pure zinc 
is almost unaffected. The effect on the commercial zinc is a. 
galvanic action, due to the presence of impurities (iron. lend, 
etc.), which causes the zinc to dissolve far more ranidl.v 
than if they were absent. Practically s'milar. although, of 
course, much slower effects, take place when zinc coating is 
exposed to the weather. It is these impurities. 1 believe, 
that are responsible for a good share of our trouble. If 
galvanized goods were coated with electrolytic zinc (such as 
may be had on the other side, of a guaranteed nurify of 99.98 
per cent). I believe that complaints would cease. Zinc of 
this character is a regular article of commerce in England, 
and may be had at a slight advance over the market rates 
for spelter. a. cochran. 
The Experiment Station and Wire 
I have long thought that there is too much of a tendency 
to consider the stations as a sort of detective agency. I do 
not think that the stations should be loaded with the fer¬ 
tilizer control as they are in some States, nor with the en¬ 
forcement of the law in regard to the San Jose and other 
insect troubles. I agree with you that the matter of poor 
wire should be looked into, and those responsible for it 
should be dealt with by the law. What we need is a vigorous 
enforcement of the laws against the trusts that interfere 
with business and choke off competition. With anything 
like a fair competition there would be good wire on the 
market made by some one. What the stations could do in 
the matter I am unable to see. The quality of the wire and 
the quality of the galvanizing are matters to be found only 
by the test of time in use. and anyone can find this out. as 
they are finding it out as well as the stations. The courts 
are the places where the matter must be tested. If some 
one would buy the wire on a written guarantee of its 
quality, and then after testing find that it is inferior he can 
bring suit against the makers, no matter how big the com¬ 
pany. But to expect the experiment stations to play the 
detective on all the rogues and roguish trusts in the country 
would leave them little time for the investigation of the 
problems of agriculture for which they were made. 
A STATION WORKER. 
THE NORTH JERSEY TOMATO CROP . 
In this section of Monmouth County, N. J.. the only crop 
contracted for by canneries is the tomato. These men. how¬ 
ever. buy other fruits and vegetables in their season, such as 
asparagus, pumpkins, squash, some berries and a few Kieffer 
pears. These last named crops, asparagus excepted, are al 
ways bought when the market is low. and if not low enough 
for them. # they do not buv at all. Perhaps this condition 
here is due to our nearness to the large cities, and would not 
be the same were we more isolated. The first that I can re¬ 
member of the tomato commencing was when my father con¬ 
tracted for and planted a few acres to this vegetable for a 
cannery in a neighboring town. At that time. 36 or 37 
years ago. this was principally the only tomato farming 
done so far as I can remember. The grower received his 
plants from a man contracted to do that work by the can 
house, and had to pay $3 per 1.000: he grew and delivered 
his crop to said cannery in crates furnished him, said to hold 
a bushel of 60 pounds', but if well filled would weigh from 
75 to 80 pounds, crate included. For this he received 35 
cents per crate, or about $11.67 per ton. I well remember 
hearing the expressions that price was too low, or crate too 
large, and sometimes both. However, the price did not stay 
long at 35 cents, neither did the crate stay long that held 
about or nearly 2.800 cubic inches, but the price fell faster 
than the size of the crate. Nevertheless, during that period, 
farmers were learning more about how to produce a larger 
crop: better varieties were introduced: larger yields were 
secured, and to-day I know some farmers who were finding 
fault with nrices'received at the beginning who are still 
growing to-day for $8 and sometimes a little less per ton, 
and have been continually at it for nearly or quite 40 years. 
I might say that this crop is not grown as a main money 
cron, but a few acres are planted to fill out the season after 
early crops are finished, also to have an outlet for remainder 
of early tomato crop when market gluts. This is one of the 
principal advantages to be gained where it can be made a 
part of the contract. 
In another section of this county, where the early tomato 
is not largely grown, the growing of canbouse stock is one 
of the principal crops produced, large fields are planted to 
late tomatoes exclusively for canning. These men receive 
about $8 per ton delivered at factory. The cost of produc¬ 
ing a crop of late tomatoes to beginning of picking should 
not be over $.30 per acre, and in some sections where soil 
is strong and adapted to the growth of this crop, the cost 
may be still reduced. In sections where the Tomato blight 
is not an habitual visitor this crop when properly grown 
should yield from eight to ten tons iter acre, and I have 
known 15 tons to be taken from one acre of land. In sec¬ 
tions where farmers are near good canneries, also where they 
are away from good markets, or are handicapped in any way 
in getting their produce to market, I think it safe to say 
there is some clear profit in growing this crop for canning 
at $8 as a minimum price per ton. The asparagus crop too 
is being grown somewhat for canning, but this is so much 
of att infant yet that it is hardly possible for one to say 
what can be done by the time a farmer could produce a crop. 
Those who have already established beds must be their 
own judge whether it will pay them best to ship to market 
or sell to eanners. In this section the past season from 2Va 
to as high as four cents per pound was paid for asparagus 
by eanners. How long this will last no one can say. 
C. C. TIULSART. 
AN OLD MAN ON AN OLD FARM. 
I have a farm of 50 acres, 25 acres of which are covered 
with timber, brush and large rocks, not fit to work, nor ever 
will be. I keep four cows and two horses and about 70 hens 
on an average. Sales in 1904 were as follows: Butter, 
3182.22: buttermilk. $169.33: eggs, $128.30; apples, 
8125.12; strawberries, $73.83: raspberries. $54.33; cherries. 
$36.46; grapes. $14.38: potatoes, $55.80; cabbage. $55.80; 
parsnips. $14.73; beans. $10.20: pears. $16.96; poultry, 
$15.83: miscellaneous. $41.63; total. $994.92. My wife and 
I did all the work, except abort $10 paid for gathering fruit. 
Our stock food cost about $215 for bran, middlings, cracked 
corn. etc. \Ye grow corn fodder and hay enough to winter 
our stock. On account of failure of some of our crops our 
income was only about two-thirds of what is usually is. 
This report does not show how much the farm produced, only 
what was sold. \Ve grew some buckwheat, and probably 
1,000 sheaves of rye and three or four loads of mangels, and 
cut several tons of hay. We think we did fairly well, taking 
all things into consideration. My age is 73, and better half 
about 10 years my junior. old luzerne. 
Pennsylvania. _ 
THE RISE OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 
It is interesting and gratifying to one who was interested 
in the fight for agricultural education in New York State 
during 1903 am! 1904. and will be to all. f<> get the point 
of view of men high in the agricultural world who watched 
the progress of our movements. These men were interested 
not only in our success, Dut also in its broader significance, 
viz., the effect upon agricultural educational movements 
tUroughor. the whole country. It was recently my privilege 
to discuss the question with Dr. Davenport, of the Illinois 
College; Dean Henry, of Wisconsin, and l’rof. Clinton D. 
Smith, of the Michigan College and Experiment Station. In 
the first place it was difficult for these men with the western 
attitude awards farm life, to understand how it could b. 
possime for any educational influence openly to tight indus¬ 
trial training. ’I hey knew, furthermore, if we were defeated 
that agriculture in the East had received a severe blow, 
which it could ill afford to stand after its experience of 20 
years, and a loss of fuilv one-half its previously assessed 
valuation. They also knew that defeat would stagnate to a 
greater or less degree their own growth, and so it was hard 
indeed for these men to remain at their desks, and not come 
to New ' erk and personally engage in the struggle that each 
one of these men said was the greatest agricultural victory 
and the hardest fought battle of modern times. Prof. Henry 
was free to say that the result not only affected New York, 
but the entire East in its influence upon land values, and 
the Dean is substantiating his belief in the future of the 
Fast by investments here in farm lands. One has to come 
West to appreciate the value of college training to the farm 
boys and to the welfare of the State from such education. 
Farmers’ institute meetings are dotted with these men. who 
are making money on their farms or getting Dig wages work¬ 
ing for others. It lias lifted the whole business of farming 
into a new atmosphere. 
One f*eis that after all he is not talking and working 
for an air castle. We are in the ascendency now in tlie 
East, with an opportunity to train men that the full equip¬ 
ment at Cornell lias already provided, and the buildings are 
under way. We may expect to get results in a way that 
will prove to those who were blind to the needs of the hour 
that there was an actual economic demand for better facil¬ 
ities for industrial training. The Wisconsin University pro¬ 
vided last year, and will repeat the school again this Win¬ 
ter, beginning February 14. a two-weeks’ course for farmers 
over 25 years of age. Last year the course numbered 160. 
from 42 counties of the State. These things are telling upon 
agriculture in the West as a competitor of New York. Don't 
think : "Oh, well, that will do to write and talk about.” and 
at the same time let the West discount us at our own busi¬ 
ness. Demand of our college a short course for the farmers, 
even gray haired men and women, and if there isn’t money 
enough plainly tell the Legislature to give more, and you 
will pay it back in wealth ten-fold. We have made a good 
Start in the East. If our conservatism permits us now 
to rest we shall have lost half the battle that cost us much 
to win. H. E. COOK. 
We have had mild Winter weather: but little snow; the 
ground is now bare. Corn about all gathered and crop 
above an average: quality of corn exceptionally good. Some 
damage to Winter wheat by Hessian fly. Keep agitating 
the parcels post. a. m. ji. 
Davenport, Neb. _ 
BUSINESS BITS . 
To any responsible person the Victor Talking Machine will 
be sent on free trial, to be returned if not satisfactory. The 
Talking Machine Co. will send you a machine and let you 
try it before deciding to buy it. A free catalogue and a list 
of 2.000 records can be had bv addressing the Talking Ma¬ 
chine Co., Department 4 R, 107 Madison Street. Chicago. 
At the annual meeting' of the Vermont Maple Sugar 
Makers’ Association, January 11. G. II. Grimm. Rutland. Vt.. 
was awarded the first premium on the Champion evaporator 
and other sugarmakers' utensils, including gathering tanks, 
storage tanks, sap spouts, bucket covers, etc. Dudley Carl- 
tom Newbury. Yt.. received the highest award and a special 
prize on bis exhibit of maple sugar and syrup, and Charles 
Stafford. Chippenhook. Vt.. received the first premium on 
maple sugar, both using Champion evaporators. 
Nearly every reader of this paper would find it profitable 
to own and run a “Woodpecker" gasoline engine. We believe 
they are making a fair and square offer in our advertising 
columns. They have written to us. asking that we say to you 
they stand ready to give courteous and personal attention 
to any question that any reader of this paper may care to 
ask. Don't be afraid to go into details about your farm and 
about the machinery you want to run with your power. 
They will give you the information you want. Write to 
“Woodpecker,” Main Street Office, Middletown. Ohio. 
There is no longer any question about the advisability and 
the benefits of dishorning cattle. But at this time of year, 
when stock is shut up most of the time, they are more liable 
to injure themselves and others, when turned out for air and 
exercise, than when they are running out all of the time. To 
prevent this damage and often loss dishorning is made 
absolutely necessary. By the use of the Keystone disborner 
the operation will not be laborious and will cause but an in¬ 
stant's pain. This up-to-date dishorner is made by M. ’]’. 
Phillips, of Pomeroy. Pa., who will be pleased to send de¬ 
scriptive circulars and prices to all interested parties. 
