1905 . 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
593 
PUBLISHER’S DESK. 
A New York State farmer who sent 
$100 to the defunct People’s U. S. Bank 
of St. Louis, Mo., writes as follows: 
I never thought to look at Publisher’s Desk 
until lately, or I no doubt would have been 
$100 richer to-day than I am. 
We think there are others who are 
richer by $100 for doing so. They cer¬ 
tainly are if they have taken our advice. 
When we referred to the Jackson nur¬ 
series at Bosky Dell, Ill., we had no no¬ 
tion that their dealings with farmers were 
so unsatisfactory generally as they have 
proved to be. It seems the proprietors 
are Bradleys, and they give the postmas¬ 
ter as reference, but that official’s name is 
Bradley, too, and farmers who have writ¬ 
ten him in regard to complaints got 
scant courtesy. Judging from the cor¬ 
respondence coming to us, the customers 
of this concern have fared badly indeed. 
The complaint is that they get the order 
and the money, then ignore letters en¬ 
tirely. and sometimes neglect to fill the 
order at all. Sometimes they send part 
of the goods ordered, but they are usu¬ 
ally inferior and so dried up and withered 
as to be entirely worthless when received. 
There seems further to be no attempt 
to send the varieties as ordered. It has 
been suggested that the Post-master Gen¬ 
eral should issue orders against them to 
deny them the use of the mails, and com¬ 
plaint will probably be entered. In the 
meantime it will be well to keep their 
methods in mind and place orders with 
responsible nurserymen, who feel some 
obligation to a grower even after they 
have his money secure in their pockets. 
Messrs. Bradley Bros, seems to have no 
such tender sentiments. 
We have had occasion to refer to the 
business of S. J. Smith, of Shortsville, 
N. Y., on a former occasion, but it seems 
that he catches an occasional victim yet. 
We let one of our subscribers tell his 
own experience in the following note; 
I sent a money order for $15.00 to S. J. 
Smith. Shortsville, N. Y„ March 10. 1004, 
for live barrels of seed potatoes, to be shipped 
the latter part of April. May first they had 
not come. I wrote him and asked why po¬ 
tatoes had not come as agreed. No answer. 
After a while, I wrote again: no answer. 
Then I sent him a registered letter, and in 
a few days got a reply but no potatoes. Fi¬ 
nally in June, when I was hoeing, word 
came to me that two or three sacks of pota¬ 
toes had reached the depot for me. t refused 
to accept them, as I had secured other seed, 
and it was entirely too late for planting. 
I demanded a return of my money, but 
Smith lias refused to return it in full. He 
did send me $9 during the next Winter, which 
I returned on advice of counsel. 
Vermont. p. j. Griffith. 
Mr. Smi’h has now had Mr. Griffith's 
money for nearly a year and a half, and 
refuses to return it. He makes no ex¬ 
planation of his methods of taking mat¬ 
ters in his own hands, and only returns 
impudence when courteously requested to 
do so. We don’t know whether Smith is 
a common rogue or not, but the effect of 
his transactions with many customers is 
just the same as if he be an ordinary 
swindler. About two years ago his ad¬ 
vertisement appeared in The R. N.-Y., 
and we insisted on his returning the 
money to several customers, some of 
whom claimed the seed sent them was 
not of the same grade as the samples fur¬ 
nished by Smith before the order was 
placed. But even after returning the 
money we refused to carry any more of 
his advertising, and he claims he can get 
advertising enough in other farm papers, 
and returns impudence when we call his 
attention to complaints. A lawsuit over 
$15.90 by parties in different States is not 
an encouraging prospect for the injured 
party, but we feel this kind of business 
ought to be discouraged, and we have 
decided to place the ma f ter in the hands 
of an attorney for legal action. An injury 
of this kind to one farmer is the concern 
of every farmer, and the sooner such 
methods are discouraged and frowned 
upon the better it will be not only for 
producers and hpnest seedsmen, but also 
for the delinquents themselves. 
Here is a pertinent inquiry: 
Do you know anything about the American 
Ginseng Farm, Rose Hill, N. Y., and would 
you buy any stock in the company? 
Yen, we know something about ginseng, 
and its culture, and we would not invest 
30 cents in the stock of any company 
organized to grow it. What good to be 
guaranteed a big dividend on the stock 
and big price for the roots, if the man or 
concern making the guarantee is neither 
good nor responsible? 
PRODUCTS PRICES, AND TRADE . 
Linseed Products have been advancing for 
several weeks, and further increase is looked 
for in the near future. Some are prophesy¬ 
ing an advance of 25 cents a gallon on oil 
within four months. It is said that the Stan¬ 
dard Oil interests are now in absolute con¬ 
trol of this business, the independent Buffalo 
concerns, which have hitherto been important 
factors, having sold out or got out. The 
wholesale price of flaxseed in leading mar¬ 
kets where it is made a specialty averages 
about $1.40 per bushel, and nearly $1.50 for 
December delivery. Oil ranges from 55 to 
60 cents, according to quality and amount 
bought. For five-barrel lots of boiled oil job¬ 
bers are charging 56 cents. The retail price 
of linseed oil is now so high that painting is a 
poeketbook-smashing job, particularly for 
buildings that have been neglected, so that 
the boards are hungry for oil, and, if it goes 
much higher, people of moderate means will 
have to fall back on cold water and skini- 
milk paints. It is probable, however, that 
a decided shortage in demand will result from 
this price advance, and check it. That is 
the way It usually works, except with actual 
necessities of life, and linseed oil is not 
such. 
Fruits. —Peaches are making a more cred¬ 
itable showing, a good many very fair lots 
being seen. A few have sold at $2 per 
crate, but more from $1.50 down. The cool 
week has been unfavorable for watermelons, 
and they are the lowest; for the season. 
Muskmelons have brought all sorts of prices, 
from 50 cents to $8 per bushel crate, the 
latter for some from Arizona, which are 
considered the choicest that reach this mar¬ 
ket, being sweet and uniform. A considerable 
quantity of poor apples arrived the early part 
of the week, but the demand for cooking ap¬ 
ples is very good, and most of them worked 
out at from 25 to 50 cents per bushel. Bet¬ 
ter stock went as high as $2.50 per barrel. 
Results of early apple shipments are often 
disappointing, and the quotations for a day 
or two before shipping are no sure indica¬ 
tion of what will be received. A local wind¬ 
storm may thrash tlie trees and send a flood 
of windfalls to market, and if one man finds 
that his early apples are ready to ship, the 
chances are that his neighbors will make the 
same discovery about that time. The mar¬ 
ket outlook for early and Fall apples is quite 
favorable. 
Chickens, both live and dressed, are get¬ 
ting much more plentiful, and prices are cor¬ 
respondingly low. The top wholesale price 
for choice Spring chickens is now 22 cents 
a pound. This is for those that will weigh 
about four pounds per pair. Earlier in the 
season chickens of the same quality sold for 
40 cents. Of course the cost of producing 
them was much greater, but for those who 
have the facilities for handling very early 
chickens the market offers strong induce¬ 
ments. As with many other products which 
may be extra choice, good or bad, the very 
highest grade of chickens often sell above 
any quoted price. The chickens seen in the 
live poultry markets at this season are usu¬ 
ally more comfortably crated than the larger 
poultry. They have some room to move 
about, and their heads are not crowded out 
between ttie slats. They are worth more 
per pound, and hence the handlers take bet¬ 
ter care of them. 
How Are Crop Reports Made?—“I find 
in a newspaper the following: ‘The report 
indicates crop yield as follows’: Then is 
given a list of the principal crops and esti¬ 
mated yields based on the Government crop 
report for July. Tell the method used in 
making such calculations.” t. b. 
Maine. 
The exact source of the information on 
which these reports are based is more or 
less a mystery. The Government is sup¬ 
posed to have a large number of correspond¬ 
ents throughout the country who by observa¬ 
tion and inquiry learn the condition of the 
crops. These reports are assembled in the 
office of the Agricultural Department Statis¬ 
tician, at Washington, boiled down, and the 
tin^l percentages, based on a normal crop, 
figured. This work is supposed to be kept 
secret until a certain day and hour, when it 
is given out in all directions at once. Just 
how much ground is actually covered by these 
reports is not explained to the public. Some 
have been unkind enough to say that there 
is more or less “bluff” about it; that in some 
sections the ground is not thoroughly looked 
over, and not enough facts are gathered to 
warrant a comprehensive estimate; that it 
is a case of the Government making a state¬ 
ment that no one can deny on account of the 
hazy origin of the alleged facts. But there 
certainly can be no truth in this accusation. 
No sane man can believe the Department 
guilty of such foolish trickery for the sake 
of getting glory. As has been said here be¬ 
fore ail of this secrecy seems unnecessary. It 
is claimed that if the report were given out 
In sections instead of being held until the 
entire country is rounded up farmers “would 
not understand it.” A great many people do 
not understand it now, and depend upon the 
exchange speculators' interpretations of it. 
But why not make public the items as re¬ 
ceived and exact localities covered, that is, 
in such-and-such county the indications are 
so-and-so? The public would know just what 
was meant by that, could figure their 
own totals, and the items would be looked 
on as matters of news of real value. If such 
an itemized statement showed important pro¬ 
ducing sections not well covered, people 
would emphatically urge Congress to appro¬ 
priate enough for such work. This plan 
would be considered nonsense by boomers 
who glory in a grand flourish of final per¬ 
centages, but it would be popular in the best 
sense and give the public confidence in the 
Department’s work that would ensure for It 
a broad field and generous appropriations. 
H. 
INCOME FROM R HEN. 
According to my experience, the average 
hen here yields $1.25 to $1.50 gross annually. 
Battle Creek, Mich. w. r. w. 
The average hen in this locality will lay 
about 150 eggs per year. We received an 
average of 15 cents per dozen for eggs last 
year; that would make a gross income of 
$1.90; less 40 cents, the average cost to keep, 
would make a net income of $1.50. Pure 
Leghorns do 30 per cent better than that. 
l’ea vine, Tenn. c. e. b. 
I can hardly give a fair estimate from my 
own tlock, as I sell so many eggs for hatch¬ 
ing and so much stock of good quality. But 
I am familiar enough with what my neigh¬ 
bors get. out of their flocks to give a fair esti- 
mnt of what the income from an average 
hen is when eggs and stock are sold at reg¬ 
ular market prices, and I think $1.75 is about 
a fair estimate. Judging from what it costs 
me to feed my hens, $1 of that is clear 
profit. E. T. E. 
Reading, Mich. 
SUMMER FOOD FOR POULTRY. 
My experience In feedin~ rye to poul¬ 
try has proven unsatisfactory every time 
I attempted it. In my case it turned the 
droppings black, and was followed by a 
looseness of the bowels. I should advise 
everyone who raises it to sell it and buy 
wheat. I have obtained highly satisfac¬ 
tory results by feeding my laying hens 
during the Summer months only morning 
and evening, on a ration of equal parts 
by measure, oats and wheat, but always 
supply them with plenty of green food if 
not on free range. My young stock I 
feed three times daily; in the morning and 
at noon equal parts by measure, wheat, 
cracked corn and oats; at night, a mash 
of equal parts by weight of the following: 
Corn chop, oat chop, wheat bran and 
wheat middlings. This ration I also use 
for my laying hens during the Winter, but 
add about 10 per cent beef scraps to the 
mash to supply the animal food they pick 
up on the range. Cockerels that T desire 
to market I usually separate from the 
pullets when they are eight to 10 weeks 
old, and feed them on a ration composed 
of about 50 to 75 per cent corn, all they 
will eat. and by this treatment usually 
have them ready for market in about 
from four to five weeks, depending upon 
the size and weight I want. The pullets 
I continue to feed on the ration described 
before. harry a. aulenbach. 
Pennsylvania. 
Birds and Cherries. —Cherries both sweet 
and sour, succeed here, but the robins are get¬ 
ting the fruit. This morning we saw some 
trees that presented a serio-comic aspect, 
being completely covered with black mosquito 
netting. If the birds would only be satisfied 
with huckleberries they might eat their till, 
for here blueberries abound, but the feathered 
darlings. Heaven bless ’em. are determined 
to have all the cherries and they keep up a 
continual “ holler” for more. j. y. p. 
Old Orchard. Maine. 
FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE 
IMPORTED ARABIAN STALLION 
Six years, 15k: hands, sound, kind, has good action, 
prompt driver and fearless of all sights. Exhibited 
at St, Louis during Fair. Will exchange for two good 
driving horses. Only reason for selling have sold farm. 
A low wagon 
at a low price. 
Handy tor 
■the farmer. 
Will carry a 
load any- 
where a horse 
can travel. 
Low Down Wagons 
soon earn their cost on any farm. 
Steel Wheels 
for farm wagons. Straight or stag¬ 
gered spokes. Any size wanted, any 
Width of tire. Hubs to lit any axle. 
For catalogue and prices, Write to 
Empire Mfg. Co., Box 70 H Quincy, III. 
THE “NEW WAY” PRESS 
is a horizontal press. It bales IK to 2K tons per 
hour. Size of bale is 46x23x19 inches. Feed hole 
46x50inches—easy to feed, no tramping fork only 
used, Revolutionizes the loose baling system. 
Makes the very desirable eastern market bale. Beats mil 
Box and Upright Presses by doing 100 percent more work. 
Stands at work iust as you see It in the cut. Very portable. 
Adapted to bank barn work. Write for Illustrated Catalog. 
SANDWICH MFG. CO., 157 MAIN ST., SANDWICH, ILL. 
Hay Presses, 
at 
Splices ' 
. so low that it will 
not pay you to patch your 
o 1 «l lireux or borrow 
your neighbors. T H E 
HENDRICK S Ik the 
strongest and easier to 
operate than any other 
press on the market. 
“ They are easy to pay for. | 
| Free catalog. B. D. Hendricks & Co. ,Cornell St.,Kingston, N.Y. 
K 
POULTRY. 
^POULTRY LINE— I i'encin 
bators. Live Stock. Broodei 
OQOOOOOOQ 
We 
rything 
ig, Feed, 
keep ev-i 
in the I 
Incu- 
___ fencing 
|bators, Live Stock, Brooders—anything— 
Jit’s our business. Call or let us send you 
jour Illustrated Catalogue—it’s free for the 
j asking—it's worth having. 
(Excelsior Wire At Poultry Supply Co., 
(Dept. H.G. 26 & 28 Vesey Street. New York City. 
qqqqqqqqqoqqoqoqqqqqqqq6q{ 
Free Poultry Book 
Complete catalogue and pmillrymen’s guide, 218 
pages (8 x It inches) 600illustrations. Describes 
th0 d*rd Cyphers Incubators 
price f 6. 60 and up, and 40 PoultrVmen’s necessities. Free 
ifyotl sand addresses of two neighbors interested in good 
poultry. Write to Cyphers Incubator Cd- 
BuffuaO, Boston, (ihtcago, Now York, Kansda 
City ok* Ban Francisco* 
WOMAN WANTS 
The butter and egg money |W0RE 
A is a big Item totbelarmer’s 
wife. She can increase her prsfaQ 
egg production by feeding 
■Harvey’s Mixed Grains bwh 
—» combination of cereals specially suited I 
to poultry, with 7 years of success behind it. I 
A Monev-Saving Catalogue Fret. 
HARYEY SEED CO., 83 ELLICOTT ST„ BUFFALO, N. Y. I 
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. 
EMPIRE STATE S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS 
ROSE COMB W. LEGHORNS 
Prize Winners at the Best Shows. Eggs $1 
for 15; $3 for 50: $5 for 100. Half price after June 
first. L. C. HILLS, Delaware. Ohio. 
S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS 
Yearlings 75 cents. 
HILANDALE FARM, Brooklyn, Ohio, R. F. D. 2. 
C hoice Stock for Sa le.—Hocks. Wy andottes, Leghorn s 
Minorcas, Turkeys, Ducks and Guineas. Also Lice 
Killing Nest Eggs, sample mailed. 5c.; dozen. 50c. 
Agents wanted. Pine Tree Farm, Jamesburg, N. J. 
Var’s Poultry, Pigeons, Parrots, Dogs, Cats. 
Ferrets, etc. Eggs a specialty. 60 p. book. 10c. 
Rates free. J. A. BERGEY,Box 8,Telford,Pa, 
C HOICE Homer Pigeons for squab breeding and 
flying. JOHN M. HATHAWAY, Acushnet, Mass. 
© 
SQUABS 
are raised in one month; f 
bring big prices. Money: 
makers tor poultrymen.r 
farmers, women. \ 
© Send for our Frke Book and learn this/ 
rich industry. Correspondence invited/ 
iPlymouth Rock Squab Co., •**■> .** > 
Howard St., Melrose, Mass. U-? 
“ MAMMOTH PEKIN DUCKS.” 
J. F. PEARSON, 
63 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y 
Let us know your wants. We have either sex, Old or 
Young. From $1.00 to $3.00 each. 
. Lauderdale Farm, Loudonville, Albany Co., N. Y. 
BULL, and will write us 
just what you want, we will 
If you are going 
to buy a 
send full pedigrees and description*, together with prices that will convince you that we have high-class 
animals at low prices. The JStevens Brothers-Hastings Company, 
BRQOXMO* HK*». Laoona, Oswego Co,. If 
