1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
6 39 
PUBLISHER’S DESK. 
W. M. Ostrander, the real estate agent 
of Philadelphia, Pa., has incorporated 
himself for $2,000,000. He has written 
some of our subscribers offering them 
some of the stock at one hundred cents 
on the dollar. Neither in the long letter 
nor in the long circular accompanying it 
do we find a single figure to show what 
asset is behind these seven figures of capi¬ 
tal stock. If he succeeds in selling all his 
shares to country people or others, he 
will have a snug little bank account of 
$2,000,000. If he should then take a trip 
to Europe, the purchasers of his stock 
could probably go to Philadelphia and 
take possession of his typewriters and 
desks, provided they paid the rent of the 
office. They could then send telegrams to 
their friends back on the farm assuring 
them that prospects are exceptional, if 
they send a check at once. We do not 
call this a- bunco game. Let everyone 
call it what he pleases for himself. There 
must be something besides desks and type¬ 
writers and rent hills to form a table of 
assets. There are certainly pens and ink, 
and no doubt some left-over telegram 
blanks. Then if there is any printed 
matter left over there will be some pic¬ 
tures of Mr. Ostrander’s handsome face. 
If all this with any other things of equal 
or greater value are worth two millions of 
dollars to you, why then there is no good 
reason why you should not buy all the 
stock you want. 
It would seem from our correspondence 
that sending telegrams for remittances is 
not as profitable now as it was some time 
ago. We have received many letters like 
the following: 
Within find one dollar. I never want to 
be without your valuable paper. I like the 
way you show up frauds. The l’hUa ,, '' | oti 
real estate a Rent tried his hand on me several 
times, and the last time sent me a telegram 
one Sunday morning, but I did not bite. 
Pennsylvania. s. s. m. 
We have other things that we would 
like to talk about in this department ex¬ 
cept the people who want to get our sub¬ 
scribers’ money without giving any fair 
return for it. and often no return at all. 
From week to week we think we can take 
up the other subjects, but the crooked 
schemes keep crowding in on us. Besides, 
one telling does not seem always to suf¬ 
fice. After the publicity given the Peo¬ 
ple’s U. S. Bank of St. Louis, Mo., we 
thought nothing more need be said on 
the subject, but even to-day comes an 
inquiry from an agent right here in New 
York State who has been collecting money 
for the concern, and asking if it would be 
sa f e to send it on. The agent, of course, 
was honest and he took the people’s mon¬ 
ey in good faith, and will no doubt now 
return it to each of them. He simply 
learned of the facts when soliciting money 
for them from one of The R. N.-Y. read¬ 
ers. and right here we want to suggest 
that our subscribers can do a great deal 
of good by keeping neighbors informed 
on these matters, and by making careful 
inquiry themselves before sending money 
to people they know nothing about. Here 
is a note from a lady subscriber who for¬ 
tunately acted on our advice some time 
ago: 
You cannot tell how thankful T am for that 
information you gave me in regard to the 
People's IT. S. Bank. I had but a very little. 
It was what I had saved from my household 
expenses, from my poultry last year. I try 
to put by a little every year, as some day I 
may be in need of a little. After reading 
what you had said I wrote to Mi-. Lewis ask¬ 
ing him to send back the money. It was a 
good while before I received the check. June 
0. but it came at last, and in just two weeks 
after I saw the fraud account in one of our 
papers. h. s. 
Connecticut. 
Here was a woman who had by indus¬ 
try and economy saved a few dollars for 
a time of need. She sent it to this bank 
for safe keeping. The man who would 
take such money, and convert it to his 
own use is a bigger rascal than the high¬ 
wayman who holds his victims up at the 
point of a pistol. 
Here is a postscript from a letter re¬ 
ceived to-day: 
Many single issues of The R. N.-Y. are 
worth to me a year’s subscription. li. K. 
1 llinois. 
We print this because we want to sug¬ 
gest that if you find The R. N.-Y. useful 
and helpful to you, just tell your neigh¬ 
bors about it. Every mail brings us com¬ 
ments of this kind in connection with re¬ 
mittances for renewals. We are glad to 
have them, but do not stop at telling us 
that the paper is helpful to you; tell 
your neighbors about it. too, and remind 
them that for a trial they may have it 
10 weeks for 10 cents. 
PRODUCTS PRICES, AND TRADE. 
Hat Measurements. —“How can I find the 
number of tons of hay in a mow without 
taking it out?' w. p. 
New York. 
A rule that will give approximate results 
is to find the cubic contents of the mow in 
feet. Divide this by 510 if the hay is rather 
loose, or by 400 if well packed down. The 
result will tell the number of tons. But it is 
easy to see that his can be but little better 
than an estimate, as there are scarcely any 
two mows that will weigh out the same 
amount per cubic yard. The kind of hay. 
condition when put in, whether thrown in 
loosely or stamped hard, deptli of mow, etc., 
are elements that alTeet the result. The 
writer lias taken hay from a mow 20 feet 
deep and IS square, hay put in by horse fork 
and dropped from track in peak of roof. 
From a little above the center to the bottom 
of this mow the hay was as firm as a loosely 
pressed bale. Dividing the cubic contents by 
44.. instead of 460 would give nearer the re¬ 
sult in such a mow. If readers have any 
other method of estimating contents of hay 
trows we shall be glad to have them. 
Roots and Herbs.—“W ill you tell me 
where I can find a market for herbs, such as 
wormwood, tansy, spearmint, etc.?" 
A VERMONT ROV. 
These things are handled by botanic drug¬ 
gists and brokers who make a specialty of the 
business. The following are in the market 
for all sorts of roots and herbs in season : 
Geo. A. Fllwood, 270 Pearl Street, and Mc¬ 
Kesson & Robbins, 01 Fulton Street, New 
York. Very few dealers in this line will make 
an offer without seeing the goods, as the 
value varies widely owing to quality and 
method of curing. The best way is to write 
the dealer telling how much there is for sale, 
sending a fair sample. This will bring out 
some idea of the value. The price paid to 
producers or gatherers is usually much lower 
than might be expected from the high price 
of the finished product when bought in small 
lots at the drug store. There is a heavy 
waste in the raw material miles - - cured by an 
experienced person, and the preparation takes 
some time, especially where the stuff is sold 
in pulverized form. As a rule there is no 
“big money” in gathering herbs. 
Seeling Horseradish. —“Is there a mar¬ 
ket for horseradish in New York at. a fair 
price?" f. p % 
New York. 
There is a steady demand for good root 
at prices ranging anywhere from four to nine 
cents per pound wholesale. But this refers 
to choice root, not the branchy, hollow- 
hearted wild roots sometimes offered. In a 
lot recently seen the roots were as large as 
marketable parsnips, nearly as smooth, and 
solid without being woody. The dealer 1 said 
this was just what they wanted, as it would 
work up to advantage. This plant is so im¬ 
proved by cultivation that to attempt to sell 
the scrubby roots dug in waste places is 
about like offering the wild crab’apple in a 
market acquainted with prime Spies or Bald¬ 
wins. Large quantities of this cultivated 
root come from the Southwest. This Is an¬ 
other of those specialties-in farming that one 
would better go very slowly with until he 
learns how to grow a good root. A patch 20 
feet square is cheaper for educational pur¬ 
poses than half an acre. 
Potatoes. —Since the last note on this sub¬ 
ject there has been a wild jump up in price, 
and an almost equally wild drop. Growers 
became tired of selling at $1 per barrel or 
less and many who ordinarily sell from the 
field as soon as possible stopped digging. A 
real scarcity developed, and with a fail- de¬ 
mand, as much as $2.50 per barrel was paid 
for a short time. As soon as the news got 
around, digging was begun again, and the 
market responded quickly with a drop of 75 
cents a barrel. At present indications point 
to a slight advance in the near future, and 
higher figures as soon as the bulk of growers 
who dig and sell early have their crop dis¬ 
posed of. The dried-up localities hare now 
had rain enough to help the late crop but the 
yield throughout the East can be only moder¬ 
ate at best. _ h. 
Hand Hay Press.—I notice on page 521 
.7. B. asks concerning cheap hand hay presses. 
I gave one a thorough trial three years ago. 
and will say that it may be possible to equal 
the capacity claimed by the manufacturers, 
but one-half that amount would be best to 
count upon, unless one did enough baling to 
become quite expert and had good, strong 
men to help. The press I have in mind cost 
$25. Remember one thing, viz., you can’t get 
something for nothing. These presses, how¬ 
ever. undoubtedly have their place. 
Arizona. 
AILING HENS. 
We are losing several hens and chicks. 
Can you name the disease, and give remedy? 
They begin by going blind, and sit with 
drooping head. Their mouths get slimy; 
watery discharge from bowels. Their fea¬ 
thers all loosen, and by spells they flutter 
quite high, and the feathers fly out by hand¬ 
fuls. We have oats near, and I lay it to the 
green oats. We try to keep them out. I 
give Barker's powder dry, feeding it to them 
with a spoon, and have cured several. 
Rocktown, N. J. b. d. s. 
I think that you will have to look fur¬ 
ther than the green oats for a solution to 
the problem. I would separate the ailing 
ones from the flock and give them scalded 
skim-milk with a few drops of mix vo¬ 
mica in each batch. The well ones 1 
would give 10 drops of saturated solution 
of sulphate of iron to a pint of their 
drinking water. When a common ordi¬ 
nary hen, worth less than a dollar, gets 
in the condition described I do not think 
it worth while to spend much time in 
dosing her; for, should she recover, it 
will be many months before she will 
again lay an egg, and when she does, if 
it happens to be in the breeding season, 
and a chick is hatched from it, you 
have a depleted vitality that is a very 
poor addition to your flock. e. m. s. 
GAPES IN CHICKENS. 
Will you tell what “gapes” in chickens is? 
Is there any cure for It? G. b. 
1 his is caused by worms one-half to 
three-fourths inch long, which attach 
themselves inside the windpipe. They are 
always red from the blood taken from the 
fowls. Here they'breed, and when adult 
are coughed out upon the ground, when 
their eggs arc sown broadcast. Artificially 
raised chicks will not contract gape worms 
unless placed on the ground where chick¬ 
ens have contracted or scattered the dis¬ 
ease. Earth worms may carry the trou¬ 
ble. Gape worms are indicated by the fre¬ 
quent gaping or gasping of the chicks for 
air. The old familiar horsehair loop or 
the feather end dipped in turpentine will 
remove them. However, time and chicks 
may be saved during the succeeding year 
by removing the coops to a new lot, culti¬ 
vating the old place and keeping the chicks 
from it. The time required for land to 
disinfect itself of gape worms is not 
known. Since robins and other birds may 
perpetuate them it is possible that a given 
space may never be exactly safe. Some 
poultrvmen by keeping the chicks on a 
board floor for some time have avoided 
this trouble. 
Union Lock Poultry Fence 
A Fence—Not a Netting. 
Send for our in¬ 
teresting booklet 
D, “A Short 
Story for Poultry 
Raisers.” 
Union Fence Company, 
114 Liberty Street, * New York City. 
Mills at New Haven, Conn.; DeKalb, Ill.,-Oakland,Cal. 
rUUL I n 
©POULTRY LINE— Fencing, Feed, Incu-J 
Qbators, livestock. Brooders—anything—J 
■*>it’s our business. Call or let us send you! 
)our Illustrated Catalogue—it’s free for the) 
) asking—it's worth having. 
>Excelsior Wire & Poultry Supply Co.,< 
J Dept. H.G. 26 & 28 Vesey Street. New York City < 
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCKXX)OOOOOC!< 
POULTRY SUFRLIES — 
■* The Kind that Make Kggs— All per 1UU lbs. 
Recleaned Ground Oyster Shells. 5(Jc; Mlco Grit tor 
Poultry. 60c.: MicoGritfor Pigeons,60c.: MIcoGrit for 
Chicks. 60c.; Saul’s Poultry Scratching Food. $1.65; 
Saul's Poultry Mash Food. $2; Saul's Pigeon Food. $2, 
Saul’s Chick Food, $2.50: Cut Clover,$1.60; 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. 
CH AS. F. SAUL, 220-224 James Street, Syracuse, N.Y. 
"MAMMOTH PEKIN DUCKS.” 
Let us know your wants. Wo have either sex. Old or 
Young. From $1.00 to $2.00 each. 
Lauderdale Farm, LoudonviUe, Albany Co., N. Y. 
S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS. 
Well developed Cockerels from stock bred fot laying, 
$1 each. D. F. ARNOLD, Burlington Flats, N. Y. 
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 
for 15; 
first. 
Winners at the Best Shows. Eggs $] 
$0 for 50: $5 for 100. Half price after June 
L. O. HILLS, Delaware, Ohio. 
90 
War's Poultry, Pigeons, Parrots, Dogs, Cats. 
Ferrets, etc. Eggs a specialty. 60 p. book. 10c. 
Rates free. J- A. BEKGEY, Box 8,Telford,Pa, 
R eliable Hatching Eggs, any number. Barred Rocks, 
Brown, W. and B. Leghorns, W. and U. Wyan- 
dottes, K. C. Rods. McCain Co, B., Delaware, N.J 
SILOS 
Pine, Hemlock and Cypress in 200 sizes; also cutters, blowers, 
carriers, horse powers, hay presses. Catalogue free. 
HARDER MFC. COMPANY, Box 11, Coblesklll, N.Y. 
New 
Homes m u.e West 
Cheap lands, diversified crops, abundant har¬ 
vests, good markets, everybody busy, a demand 
for good men—farmers, stockmen, merchants and 
the professions—that is the condition in the terri¬ 
tory reached by the nine thousand miles of the 
Chicago & North-Western Railway in nine of the 
great States of the Northwest. 
Homeseekers’ Rates 
Why not go West and see for yourself? The North-Western Line 
offers special low-rate round-trip tickets to points in Illinois, Iowa, 
Nebraska, Wyoming, the Dakotas, Wisconsin, Northern Michi¬ 
gan, Minnesota and other points West the first and third 
Tuesdays of each month. All agents sell these low-rate 
tickets reading via this line. 
Write to us for facts as to soil, resources, climate, schools and 
churches, and as to where to find business openings suited 
to your needs. Free booklets, maps and full infor¬ 
mation on request. 
W. B. KNISKERN, 
Passenger Traffic Manager, 
CHICAGO. 
NWS05 
J. D. P. 
