1905 . 
TUB RURAL NEW-YORKER 
545 
PUBLISHER’S DESK. 
It is simply astonishing to sec the num¬ 
ber of rogues there are in the country 
with schemes of one kind and another 
to allure a dollar from the pockets of the 
people w4io earn it honestly. Some of 
these, schemes are so clever and subtle 
that it is no wonder they catch the un¬ 
wary. The truth is they often catch men 
of broad experience. We cannot hope to 
head them all off. We could hardly hope 
to do it if we devoted all our time to it, 
and did nothing else. Some of them get 
a good start before they come to our at¬ 
tention. Indeed, many of them have to 
be developed before their true purpose 
becomes apparent, and even then they 
find apologists and defenders in apparent¬ 
ly respectable influences that profit by 
the trickery. Fifteen years ago the 
“creamery sharks” were in full sway. 
They advertised liberally in farm papers, 
and received no word of criticism from 
them. Indeed, the work was done by 
agents, and the advertising appropriation 
was admittedly hush money. The R. 
N.-Y. was the only farm paper so far as 
we ever learned that refused their hush 
money, and openly denounced them By 
free contributions of stock or liberal sal¬ 
ary they always succeeded in securing 
the influence of some respectable citizens 
to help induce their neighbors to go into 
the scheme. 
When these same rogues turned their 
attention to the Boston milk market they 
found accredited help while in the work 
to mulct the producers of New England 
to the tune of $18,000, and to apologize 
for them and condone their roguery after¬ 
wards. Their disciples modified the 
scheme for operations in New York State, 
and were again backed up by alleged 
friends and advocates of the producers; 
but all the time the farmer was paying 
the piper. Indeed, so far had the brazen 
effrontery of the scheme gone that some 
of the local advocates of it actually re¬ 
ceived and accepted money for booming 
a certain farm paper which was willing 
to help in their speeches before meetings of 
producers. When this scheme reached the 
stock-jobbing stage The R. N.-Y. advised 
the producers to keep their money in 
their pockets, and they did so. Again, 
the American Farm Company entered the 
field. The R. N.-Y. showed up their 
plans of operation from the start, and 
when they began selling stock to farmers 
amounting in some neighborhoods to $20,- 
000, we talked so plainly about it that 
the company felt aggrieved to the amount 
of over $100,000, and sued us for that 
sum. During this time they were able 
to point to their advertising in other re¬ 
spectable farm papers, and the fact that 
they had an alleged libel suit against 
The R. N.-Y. was used as an argument 
to discredit our information. When the 
scheme would work no longer the suit 
was withdrawn. Even now, at the pres¬ 
ent time, agents and promotors are put¬ 
ting out alluring propositions, and asking 
farmers to subscribe for stocks in large 
or small amounts in bulk or in install¬ 
ments, and if you write^one of the papers 
or magazines that carry the advertising 
and guarantee its advertisers, protesting 
against them, you will get a polite letter 
apologizing for them. We say this ad¬ 
visedly, because many of our subscribers 
who have received such letters have sent 
them to us, and some of them are on 
file in this office now. As we said in the 
beginning, we cannot hope to head off all 
the rogues, but we propose to keep right 
on trying. 
Here is the substance of a letter just 
received: 
I am clad you are after the real estate 
agents who are guilty of fraud. I enclose a 
letter from one. This one procured two of 
his grafts—$10 and $20—here in this town 
several months ago, but no sales. He has 
tried his game on me several times, hut no 
“bite” here. o. p. p. 
Florida. 
The following paragraph is taken from 
the agent’s letter inclosed: 
If you will send me check or money order 
for the $10 retainer fee at once, as per my 
former letter and booklet, I will place your 
property on my list, and begin work without 
delay, and 1 will agree to sell your property 
within 30 days from the date it is listed with 
me, or charge you no commission for my ser¬ 
vices thereafter. I also agree that, if I fail 
to sell same within 30 days from the date it 
is listed with me that I will continue my ef¬ 
forts in pushing the sale of same until it is 
sold. 
That sounds very liberal, but just what 
is there in it to induce a man to part with 
$10? This man’s promise to try to sell 
the farm; not another thing. Neither is 
there any better reason in the rest of the 
long letter. Of course he is sure he is 
going to sell the farm. He can’t afford 
to be identified with a failure, he says. 
But if he sells, the $10 is to be allowed on 
the commission. This being so, and he so 
sure of making the sale, why insist so 
strenuously on the $10 in advance? 
Here is one more letter on a different 
and pleasanter subject: 
Gentlemen:—I wish to thank you for your 
“Business lien.” As I subscribed through an 
agency I did not expect to receive it. It is 
a wonderful little hook, a worthy companion 
of your excellent paper. The same day 1 re¬ 
ceived “The Business lien" I received another 
poultry hook, which cost me $12. For the 
average poultryman I believe “The Business 
Hen” is the equal. e. p. n. 
Idaho. 
From the first wc have had no occasion 
to praise “The Business Hen.” Those 
who have read it do that for us. We 
made it for the practical man, and largely 
for those who needed a full and detailed 
information about poultry raising, yet 
the men of most experience in poultry 
raising are the ones who have praised it 
most. To the farmer with a few hens it 
is exceedingly valuable. It will be sent 
those who have not yet received it the 
day their renewal for subscription is re¬ 
ceived. _ 
PRODUCTS, PRICES AND TRADE. 
A Ykak'.s Thadk.—T he imports at New York 
during the year ending June 30 were $684,- 
497,042, a gain of $84,000,000 over the pre¬ 
vious year. The exports were worth $506,- 
448,437, which is $12,700,000 In excess of 
1904. The customs duties collected were 
$172,547,960. 
Pheasants Wanted.—“I wish to purchase 
some pheasants and pheasant eggs, and would 
like to know how much they are worth, the 
eggs per setting and the pheasants per trio, 
one cock and two hens.” J. e. 
Long Island. 
The Davenport farms, Morris Plains, N. .T., 
have tlft largest stock of pheasants, peafowls, 
etc., in this country. Both eggs and stock 
are for sale in season, and prices will he 
quoted to inquirers. Some varieties of these 
beautiful birds are quite easily raised and 
handled and worthy of wider introduction 
into country yards. Others have peculiarities 
making special treatment necessary. One 
should look into this matter carefully before 
buying stock. 
Cotton has once more gone above the 11- 
cent mark, and the wild scenes of two years 
ago have been repeated in the Cotton Ex¬ 
change here. The chief cause was the ad¬ 
verse Government report, which showed con¬ 
ditions to be from three to five per cent poor¬ 
er than was anticipated. The percentage 
given by the Government, 77, is 7 Ms per cent 
under the average for 10 years at the same 
date, and would indicate a total crop of a 
little over 10,000,000 bales. Against this re¬ 
port it is claimed that in parts of the produc¬ 
ing sections it is hard to get disinterested 
information, and that planters willingly mis¬ 
represent crop conditions in the hope of 
booming prices. No doubt there are those 
who would do this, just as there are men 
who always talk poor apple crops in the hope 
of putting up prices. But representatives of 
the buying end of both cotton and apples are 
always best informed and not likely to be 
buncoed by the producers. The gathering of 
cotton or corn growing statistics is a job re¬ 
quiring much less time than looking over 
apple orchards, and cotton dealers will learn 
all that is to be found out, no matter how 
many planters misrepresent or refuse to re¬ 
port. But it is to be hoped that the arti¬ 
ficial prices of two years ago will not obtain. 
The public can very comfortably bear the ab¬ 
sence of the speculators devoured in this cot¬ 
ton exchange den: but the damage to busi¬ 
ness caused by the shutting down of mills 
unable to run on raw stock at 45 to 20 cents, 
and the increased efforts of foreign nations to 
become Independent of our cotton by growing 
it in their own tropical possessions, are mat¬ 
ters affecting hundreds of planters, working¬ 
men and the whole public as consumers of 
cotton goods. 
Size op Packages. —A correspondent asks 
about the size of the baskets, boxes, crates, 
etc., mentioned in quotations of fruits and 
vegetables, and wishes to know why straight 
bushels, halves and pecks are not used. 
To answer the last part of the question 
first, there is no good reason for the multi¬ 
tude of odd-size packages. The use of “pony” 
packages, that is, those a little smaller than 
a standard, is a sort of fad that has been 
carried to an absurd extent. If A is using a 
half-bushel package, B thinks he will be 
smart and use one a trifle smaller, say a 
quart or two, thinking it will sell just as 
well. A learns about it and cuts his down a 
trifle more, and so it goes. In short, these 
nondescript packages represent the freakish 
notions of package makers, shippers and deal¬ 
ers in various sections. Some of the stand¬ 
ards are as follows: A peach crate holds six 
baskets of four quarts each. This crate is 
also used for peppers and tomatoes from the 
South. The muskmelon crate holds a 
bushel; the pony crate about a peck less. The 
inverted bell basket is made in all sizes from 
four quarts to a half barrel. Some beans and 
peas come in the bushel size; some in the 
three-peck and half barrel. The peach basket 
is supposed to hold a half bushel, but the 14- 
quart looks nearly as large, and a good many 
of these are seen. Tomatoes from nearby 
come in a box called a bushel, hut really 
three or four quarts scant. The chief effect 
of this skimpy package business is to upset 
confidence in all packages of the form coun¬ 
terfeited. There is no magic charm in the 
sizes bushel, half bushel, peek, quart or bar¬ 
rel. The advantage of sticking to these is 
that they are old established standards, but 
the chief gain is the convenience of not being 
obliged to look over every package carefully 
to see that it is not “short." As has been 
said before, probably few -people are cheated 
by these short measures, as buyers pay a 
short price for them; but it is a bother to 
have to eye every package so closely. It is 
the contents and not the package that the 
buyer is after, and he would be glad to be 
relieved of (he nuisance of paying any atten¬ 
tion to the package. Take the four-basket 
boxes in which plums and grapes from the 
Pacific coast arrive, for instance. They are 
more nearly alike than two peas, and no at¬ 
tention whatever is paid to them. It would 
be out of the question to handle a fruit busi¬ 
ness of that size on the nondescript package 
plan. _ ii. 
Problem of a Lightning Rod. 
E. C., Knox, jV. Y.—What shall I do with 
my lightning rod? About eight years ago 
a wing or lean-to was built to my wagon 
house for an adjacent stable on the 
side the lightning rod connected with the 
ground. This was taken away and never 
replaced. Rod with the points is still on 
ridge with no ground connection. Wagon 
house is shingle roof; wing is steel. Can I 
connect rod with this metal roof and be 
safe, or would it be best to take down rod 
entirely? 
Ans. —This lightning rod should not be 
left in the condition in which it is. Tak¬ 
ing one with another, it is doubtful if 
rods afford much protection against light¬ 
ning. In this case, I think if it were 
mine I would do that which is the least 
work and expense, namely, take the rod 
down. If he wishes to connect with the 
metal roof of the lean-to, it will be ab¬ 
solutely necessary to have the roof con¬ 
nected with moist earth by metal wires or 
rods, in order that the current may pass 
harmlessly away in the earth. Rods 
should be grounded deeply to moist earth, 
or else carried down in a well. Of the 
practical effects of lightning rods little 
is definitely known. One properly con¬ 
structed will, no doubt, afford some pro¬ 
tection, but then, again, if it is defective 
—and many are—it is liable to do more 
harm than good. According to Govern¬ 
ment reports for year 189S, out of 1,800 
buildings struck 40 had rods and S00 had 
none, the remainder being not accounted 
for in this respect. But this proves noth¬ 
ing, as the great majority of buildings 
are not rodded, taking the country at 
large. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
Ft. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
"a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
$100 REWARD 
for any case of colic, curb, 
splints, contracted or knotted 
cords, recent shoe boils, splints 
or callous that cannot t>e per¬ 
manently and positively cured, 
if directions are followed, by 
TUTTLE’S 
ELIXIR. 
It relieves and cures Spavins, Ring Bono. Cocklo Joints, 
Scratches, Grease Hool, Foundor, Sore Backs and 
Shoulders, Bruises, Wiro Cuts, Collar and Saddle Calls, 
Pneumonia, Distemper, Chafed Places, etc. Used and 
endorsed by Adams Express Co., Chicago Eire Department 
and others. Tuttle’s American Worm Powders never fail. 
Tuttle’s Family Elixir stops the pains and aches of mankind 
instantly. Our 100-page book, “Veterinary Experience" free. 
Tuttle’s Elixir Cc.. 30 Beverly St., Boston, Mass. 
Beiuare of ail other Elixirs . Tuttle's is the only genuine 
Avoid all blisters; they are only temporary relief . 
YOUNG MEN WANTED — To learn the 
Veterinary Profession. Catalogue sc.it 
free. Address V KTEKINAKY COLI.Ki; K. 
Grand Kapids, Mich. L. L. Conkey, I’ri n 
C HOICK Homor Pigeons for squab breeding and 
flying. JOHN M. HATHAWAY, Aeushnet, Mass. 
S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS 
Four promising young Cockerels for $5.00. Over 
1,000 to select from. Send for circular. 
WHITE & RICE, Yorktown, N. Y. 
S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS 
Yearlings 7.5 cents. 
HILANDALE FARM, Brooklyn, Ohio, R. F. D. 2. 
Var's Poultry, Pigeons, Parrots, Iiogs, Cats. 
Ferrets, etc. Eggs a specialty. 00 p. book. 10c 
Rates free. J. A. BERGKY.Box 8,Telford.Pa, 
R eliable Hatching Eggs, any number. Barred Rocks, 
Brown, VV. and ft. Leghorns, W. and B. W.van- 
dottes, R.C. Reds. McCain Co, B., Delaware, N.J. 
ROSE COMB W. LEGHORNS 
Prize Winners tit the Best. Shows. Eggs $1 
t'or 15; $11 for 50: $5 for 100. Half price after Jane 
first. L. C. HILLS, Delaware, Ohio. 
EMPIRE STATE S. G. WHITE LEGHORNS 
Won two first premiums at New York State Fair, 1904. 
Trios, $5; Eggs, $1 per 15; $5 per 100. Catalogue free. 
ZIMMER BROS. R. 1), 41, Weedsport, N. Y. 
Orpingtons, Buff, Black, White. 
why not have the verj best obtainable? First cost 
may be a little more, but you get i he stock and blood 
from the grandest winning strain in America, and 
from the largest Orpington breeder. Send for forty 
page illustrated Ornlngtou catalogue, also Mating 
List describing thirty-two breeding yards and prices 
of eggs. The blood from the largest winners at New 
York the past three years aie in toesc yards. 
Box 78, WILLOW BROOK FARM, Berlin, Conn. 
POULTRY SUFTLIES 
* The Kind that Make Kggs — All per luu lbs. 
Recleaned Ground Oyster Shells, 50c; MicoGrtt tor 
Poultry. 80c.; MicoGritforPigeons,60c ; MlcoGritfor 
Chicks 6'c ; Saul’s Poultry Scratching Food. $1.65; 
Saul s Poultry Mash Food $2; Saul’s Pigeon Food. $2, 
Saul’s PbicK Food, $2.50: Cut Clover,$1.6(l; Clover Meal 
$1.60; Pure Ground Beef Scraps, $2.25: Pure Meat 
Meal, $2.25: Pure Meat and Bone. $2.25; Pure Poultry 
Bone, $2.25; Pure Bone Meal, $2.25; Hemp Seed. $4.00; 
Sunflower Seed, $5.50; Chicken Millet, $2.50. Cata¬ 
logue sent free. 
CU AS F. SAUL, 220-224 James Stx-eet, Syracuse, N. Y. 
POULTRY 
IOOOOOOOOO 
We keep ev-i 
_—. _J erything in the! 
>poultryline- Fencing, Feed, Incu-j 
jbators. Live Stock, Brooders—anything—j 
>tt’s our business. Call or let us send you. 
jour Illustrated Catalogue—it’s free for the5 
j asking—it's worth ha vine 
Excelsior Wire & Poultry Supply Co.,< 
£? Dept. H.G. 26 & 28 Vesey Street. New York City ( 
OOOQQOOOQQQQOOQOOOQOOOQOCl 
THE STRONGEST STEEL 
Fence wire known to science ia 
PAGE-WIRE—a high-carbon dou¬ 
ble-strength, basic open-hearth 
spring steel wire made in our steel 
mills at Monessen, Pa., and used 
only in the manufacture of Pago 
Fencea and coiled springH. 
PAGE WOVEN WiltK FENCE CO. 
Bex 753 Adrlun, Mich. 
HOMESEEKER’S GUIDE. 
DO YOU KNOW about the “Eastern 
Shore” of Maryland? We publish a 
Homeseeker’s Guide in the interest 
of those desiring- to purchasing good 
homes. Write for it, it is free to you. 
J. A. JONES & Co., 
SALTS BIT KY, M A RY LAND 
1’kach Fit Fuel A recent issue of Tub 
R. N.-Y. stated that it is reported that peach 
pits are used for fuel in some parts of Cal¬ 
ifornia. The writer bad occasion during the 
past Winter to use some of this fuel, and 
found them very satisfactory. They cost $4 
per ton green at the canning factory. They 
make a quick, hot lire, and are comparatively 
cheap in tins land of high-priced wood 
Arizona. j D r 
ryn THE SWINGING STEEL STANCHION 
KEEPS COWS CLEAN. 
Cheapest, Strongest and Best. The 
only Stanchion having guide to protect loose 
arm when open and insure its coming into 
place and locking. Sold at wholesale in 
unoccupied territory. Write to-day. 
I*. It. & H. .J. Weleher, Newark, N.Y. 
TILt UHAIWEIM.AMD IS MORE PRODUCTIVE 
Carnes elf surplus wale 
... , „ admits air to the soil. I 
onii i,n t-| ■ r~ Vi ^ i the value. Acres of swampy land reclaimed and made ferti! 
ROUND TILE ] p ,l kl p r “;‘ /, >V meets ev.-ry requirement. We. also make. Sew. 
■ J £l>e, Red and Hre Brick,< himney Tops, Encaustic Side Walk Tile, etc. Wri 
for what you want and prices JOHN II. JACKSON, 70 Third Aw.. Albany, N.' 
NO COMBINES OR TRUSTS IN CUTAWAYS. 
i Clark s Kevcrsibio Bush & Bog Plow, cuts a track 4 ft. wide. 1 ft. deep. Will plow anew 
"L—Cut forest. Bis Double-Action Cutaway Barrow keeps the land 
nr ' ,, A. =. true, moves 18.600 tons of earth, cuts 30 acres per day. His Rev. yr-y 
1>,sk Plow cuts a furrows to 10 it. deep, .^ 14 in.wide / 7\ - 
All these machines will kill witch- 
grass, wiul mustard, charlock, hard- 
hack sunflower, milkweed, thistle 
or any foul plant Send forcir’lars. 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO., 
Hlgganum, Conn., U. S. A. 
j—ir * ~ ' j 
