1005 , 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
657 
PUBLISHER’S DESK. 
We have received several letters from 
subscribers saying they are glad to have 
the information about unreliable nursery 
firms, and promising to keep a list of them 
for reference, so as to avoid them in the 
future. One correspondent says he had 
an order all ready to send to one of them 
last week, when The R. N.-Y. reached 
him. He then sent it to another firm 
whose advertisement appeared in The R. 
N.-Y. He even went so far as to write 
the nurseryman to tell him what he had 
done, and requested him not to send any 
more catalogues. That is the right way 
to go at such concerns. Let them under¬ 
stand that they are expected to establish 
a reputation for fair dealing before they 
can have your order and your money, and 
there will be less cause for complaint. 
In this connection we take the following 
comment from the recent letter of a re¬ 
sponsible and reliable nurseryman: 
It is not the man who can put up the 
strongest endorsement that gets the trade, 
hut the man who offers the three and five 
cent trees. 
This is from a man of considerable ex¬ 
perience in the nursery business, but while 
appearances may justify the assertion, as 
a whole we hope he is mistaken. We 
think he is. We draw the conclusion 
from the fact that practically all the pros¬ 
perous nursery houses in the country to¬ 
day owe their success to an honest effort 
to build up a name for sending out good 
reliable stock. The gentleman whom we 
quote is one of them himself. On the 
other hand, we cannot recall a single per¬ 
manent success in cither the seed or nur¬ 
sery business where such a reputation has 
not been established. The men with dis¬ 
satisfied customers may get on for a time, 
they often hang on for a considerable time, 
but failure is sure to overtake them sooner 
or later. Of course everybody wants to 
buy as cheap as he can, but every rea¬ 
sonable grower knows that prime trees 
cannot be grown and shipped for three 
cents or five cents, and what greater mis¬ 
take can a man make than to buy trees of 
a poor grade and run the chance of not 
getting the varieties lie wants, simply be¬ 
cause they are cheap? When one consid¬ 
ers the other expenses of bringing a tree 
to maturity, the first cost of the tree is 
insignificant at best. Frankly, the fact 
that a firm advertises stock at a ridic¬ 
ulously low price is good cause for looking 
on them with suspicion. The best stock 
to be had is none too good to start with, 
and it is always the cheapest in the end. 
The following letter is just in from a 
New England subscriber: 
It may please you to hear of a remark that 
was made to me a few evenings since. We 
have neighbors who have come among us from 
the great city, and who are trying to learn 
country ways. They have succeeded in rais¬ 
ing a nice flock of chickens for a beginning. 
In speaking of "The Business Hen.." the lady 
said : "We are indebted to it for till our suc¬ 
cess. We knew nothing about the work, hut 
by referring to it we have learned how to 
raise our flock. r. m. o. 
Connecticut. 
Of course we are pleased to have this 
information. It was for just such work 
that “The Business Hen” was written. 
We wanted to make it so simple and plain 
that the beginner could learn the whole 
lesson from it. By the way, you have 
neighbors who will want both the paper 
and the book. This is the time to speak 
to them about it. If they want no more 
for a start we will send the paper 10 
weeks for 10 cents; or if they want the 
book at once let them send the dollar for 
the book and the paper for a whole year. 
If they are not satisfied three cents will 
return the book, and we will refund the 
dollar. _ 
PRODUCTS, PRICES, AND TRADE. 
Fruits.— Apples continue scarce, some 
prime Duchess having brought $3.50 per bar¬ 
rel. Gravehsteins of mod'erate size and 
their usual high quality are on hand. People 
have learned the superiority of this variety 
and continually ask for it. A good many 
pale Astraclians are worked off as Graven- 
steins, which they slightly resemble in shape, 
and color, but the result is always a dis¬ 
appointment. Here is a conversation the 
next day after such a deal: 
Customer : “Were those apples you sold 
me yesterday Gravenstein?’ 
Dealer : “Yes, of course they were.” 
Customer : “Well, what's the matter with 
them ? They’re nothing like those I got last 
year.” 
Dealer: “That's the way they all are. 
They didn't grow well this year." 
Pears are high and quite a variety are 
seen; Bartlett, both nearby and western, 
which are very large, Clapp’s Favorite, Flem¬ 
ish Beauty, Clairgeau, I.e Conte, Kieffer, 
from the South, and Bell. Prime peaches 
have been scarce this week. The Connecti¬ 
cut crop has not yet reached New York, 
though some are expected in a few days. They 
ougjit to sell readily, as buyers certainly 
have not been over-supplied this year; some 
very fair Indiana fruit in bushel baskets 
is seen. Grapes begin to he a prominent 
feature in this market. Scattering lots have 
been seen for a month, hut now nearly every 
fruit place has them. Some are well colored 
but sour as vinegar, probably from vines 
where “ringing” is practiced. Trade in near¬ 
by melons is in a bad state. The cool, rainy 
week gave them a flavor something like cow 
pumpkins and cucumbers. Ohe way in which 
the peddlers dispose of such melons is to 
take with their load a few prime Rocky 
Fords to cut up in small pieces as samples. 
Some people are fooled in this way, and the 
peddler takes another route the next day. 
Potatoes are again lower. During the 
week there was a sudden jump up of three 
or four shillings a barrel, owing to the 
rainy weather, which prevented digging. 
When the rain stopped there was a rush 
of digging again, and the early shippers sold 
at the advanced price, but this lasted only 
a short time. There seems to be no end 
of potatoes, and shippers are glad to dis¬ 
pose of them at 50 cents a bushel, gross, or 
a little better. 
A “Write-up” for Borax is appearing in 
some of the daily papers which fall easy 
victims to this form of bunco or act as will¬ 
ing peddlers of such misinformation. The 
present boom for boric acid is in the form 
of a letter from a private citizen, ostensibly 
in no way interested in the sale of preserva¬ 
tives. and is intended to counteract the fool¬ 
ish prejudices of some people who think they 
prefer heat, salt or sugar as food preserva¬ 
tives to such chemicals as borax and for¬ 
maldehyde. Here are a few statements from 
this letter : 
“In the United States butter is manufac¬ 
tured with salt, and the manufacturer of 
butter relies upon salt as his preservative, 
even though it is not a good one except 
when used to excess." 
We know where butter that will keep a 
year in an ordinary cellar can be had. and 
have eaten it two years old without any 
suggestion of rancidity, though salted only 
enough to suit the average taste. There is 
no secret process about this butter. It is 
simply the pure article made with care and 
neatness. 
"If the butter manufacturers in the Unit¬ 
ed States were permitted to use a harmless 
preservative (boric acid) there would be no 
bad butter which could be sold to renova¬ 
tors, and the public would be benefited in 
that every ounce of the butter bought by it 
could be eaten. None would go had and have 
to be thrown away. The consumption of but¬ 
ter would increase, for everyone knows that 
the poorer the butter in quality the less it 
is eaten.” 
A large amount of the wretched butter 
which goes to the renovators is spoiled be¬ 
fore it ever sees the churn. Dirty milk, 
utensils and surroundings are responsible, 
and the stuff is scarcely fit for soap grease 
The need for renovation of butter ought not 
to exist, and no one deplores it more or is 
less responsible for it than the reputable 
dairyman, but boric acid, used “pound for 
pound," with some butter would not make 
it sweet, and if it could it would he an insult 
to the public to offer it such a mess of dis¬ 
guised tilth. The only way in which boric 
acid could clear the market of poor butter 
would be to feed it in killing doses to the 
people who make such grease. 
“Countries permitting the use of boric 
acid are far ahead of the United States as 
regards the making of butter; we still 
stick to the old preservative—salt—and over¬ 
salt our butter so that a pile of water can 
be put into it; then we look pious and think 
we are aiding the health of the public. The 
saltless butter made fn the United States 
would not keep a week alongside of the 
Canadian butter.” 
Considerable unsalted butter is sold in this 
country, but, as stated above, it will not 
keep long. It is not expected to. It sells 
higher than salted butter and is handled 
quickly. It certainly could not be shipped 
abroad unless doctored in some way. There 
ls no probability that one will get enough 
boric acid in butter fixed up at the legal 
rate in some countries (one-half per cent) 
to do him any appreciable injury. But The 
R. N.-Y, is firmly opposed to letting down 
the bars for the increased use of any pre¬ 
servative of this class. If boric acid is the 
correct thing to put in butter, why not In 
milk, fish, meats and everything capable of 
being thus preserved? There is no doubt 
that we get enough of it in these things 
now, and neither borax nor formaldehyde in 
wholesale doses is recommended as a food 
stuff by its most ardent friends. But who 
ever heard of a person being injured or 
killed by an overdose of salt except from 
ocean casualty or the shotgun of an indig¬ 
nant farmer after chicken thieves? H. 
The Standard for Fourteen Years. 
You don’t need any experience to apply Ruberoid Roofing; it’s sold 
ready to use. We furnish free sufficient nails, tin caps, and Ruberine 
Cement for laying; it is so flexible and elastic, yet so strong and tough, 
that if you observe ordinary care and the instructions included with each 
roll, you are bound to get good results. 
It is absolutely air and water tight, weatherproof, fire-resisting, and 
retains its elasticity. Our patent compound, with which it is saturated, 
contains no tar, rubber, or other short-lived ingredients to melt in hot 
weather or crack and dry out with age. 
Shingles rot and metal rusts. Ruberoid costs less than either and 
CAUTION.— None genuine without the trade mark “ RUBIilROII> ” 
stamped on the under side every four feet. 
Write for samples and booklet “ R. ’ 
THE STANDARD PAINT COMPANY, 
SOLE MANUFACTURERS. 
IOO William Street. New York. 
City and country horse owners 
use Pratts Harness Soap. 
Made by Pratt Food Co., Phila. Over 30 years old. 
GSfROn BONE 
Green cut bone doublesegg yield. More fertile 
eggs, vigorous chiclcs.early broilers, heavy fowls. 
M M mile LATEST MODEL 
mfinil 9 BONE CUTTER 
10 days free trial. No money In advance. Send it 
back at our expense i f y ou don’t like i t. Cat'lg free. 
F. W.MANN CO., Box j 5 , Milford, Mu*. 
Free Poultry Book 
Complete catalogue and poultrymen's guide, 212 
pages (8 x 11 inches) 500 illustrations. Describes 
thes d ‘^ ( j Cyphers Incubators 
f irlce $fi. 60 and up, and -40 Poultrymen’s necessities. Free 
fyou send addresses of two neighbors interested in good 
poultry. Write to Cyphers Incubator Co. 
Buffalo, Boston, Chicago, hew York, Kansas 
City or San Francisco* * 
EMPIRE STATE S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS 
Won two first premiums at New York State Fair, 1904. 
Cockerels and pullets, five months old, $1 each. Cata¬ 
logue free. C. H. ZIMMER, It.I >.41, Weedsport, N.Y. 
S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS 
Over 
Four promising young Cockerels for $5.00. 
1,000 to select from. Send for circular. 
WHITE & RICE, Yorktown, N. Y. 
S. C. WHITE LEGHORNS. 
Well developed Cockerels from stock bred foi laying, 
$1 each. D. F. ARNOLD, Burlington Flats, N. V. 
C holceStock forSale.—Rocks.Wyandottes, Begin ms 
Mlnorcas, Turkeys, Ducks and Guineas. Also Lice 
Killing Nest Eggs, sample mailed. 5c.; dozen. 6Uc. 
Agents wanted. Pine Tree Farm, Jamesburg, N. J- 
j—FOX AND RABBIT HOUNDS. 
Choice Pups now ready to ship 
for $5 each. Also, PUREBRED 
GUERNSEY BULL CALVES. MELVIN THOMAS 
It. F. D. No. 1, Wayville, Saratoga County. N. Y. 
© 
SQUABS 
are raised in one month: 
bring big prices. Money 
makers for poultry men, 
farmers, women. 
335 Howard St., Melrose, 
PAGE FENCE STANDS 
Use and abuse long after the 
price has been forgotten: High- 
carbon, double-strength horizon¬ 
tals; Securely woven; Large 
cross-bars; Whole fabric heavily 
galvanized. Our first fences— 
erected 20 years ago, are still 
good. Write for evidence. 
Page Woven Wire Fence Co., Box 759,Adrian, Mich. 
ooooooooo 
P 0 U LT R V*a .'he; 
(POULTRY LINE— Fencing, Feed,Incu-! 
(bators. Live Stock, Brooders—anything—, 
jit’s our business. Call or let us send you} 
>our Illustrated Catalogue—it’s free for the J 
(asking—it's worth having. 
>Excelsior Wire Sc Poultry Supply Co.,< 
>Dept. H.G. 26 & 28 Vesey Street. New York City. ( 
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG< 
“ MAMMOTH PEKIN DUCKS.” 
Let ns know your wants. We have either sex, Old or 
Young. From $1.00 to $3.00 each. 
Lauderdale Farm, Loudonville, Albany Co., N. Y. 
ROSE COMB W. LEGHORNS 
Prize Winners at the Best Shows. Eggs $1 
for 15; $3 for 50: $5 for 100. Half price after June 
lirst. L. C. HILLS, Delaware, Ohio. 
90 
Var's Poultry, Pigeons, Parrots, Dogs, Cats. 
Ferrets, etc. Eggs a specialty. 60 p. book. 10c. 
Rates free. J. A. BKRGEY,Box 8,Telford,Pa, 
SHORT HORN BULL SALE. 
Bob White of Meadowvale, No. 194943. 
Out of SPENCER HERD of Dairy Short Horns. 
Pure White; three years old. Price moderate. 
WM. C. DURHAM, Darien, Conn. 
0 1 P Pigs.—April and Julyjfarrow. Prices reason- 
• 1 1 Ui able. VanDoren Bros,, Lysander, N. Y. 
HEN’S A MINT 
She’ll coin a mint of money when she 
can-get the right kind of food. Cut 
Alfalfa Hay is the green food tb e hen 
needs to make eggs in the winter, when 
eggs are like golden nuggets. It pays to 
feed it. We sell everything the poultry-raiser 
needs to make money. Write for free catalog. 
Harvey Seed Co., 88 Elllcott St.. Buffalo, N.Y. 
Buy Union Lock Poultry Fencing 
of Case Bros., Colchester, Conn. Descriptive circular 
and price list FliEE. 
NOW IS THE TIME 
Yon can buy the strong¬ 
est Heavy < 'oiled Spring 
Wire Fence securely 
locked at lowest mar¬ 
ket price; also Barb and Soft 
"Galvanized Wire at wholesale. Write atonce 
tor prices. The Anchor Fence A- .M i’g. Co..Cleveland, O 
AGENTS 
WANTED to sell our mii m n 
For particulars write Nil BIN 
Nat. Silo & Lumber Co. 
18 Pyniatunitig St.. Linesville, Pa. 
An Increase in Profits 
Here is the way it figured out for this man : 
$52.52 received the month he used the U. S. 
25-QQ received the month he didn’t. 
27.52 gained in one month. At this rate 
330.24 is the total for the first year, and 
. IOQ .iQ.0 deducted for his machine, leaves him 
$230.24 net gain, with his machine paid for. 
Read the signed statement below : 
Dei.hie, Minn., June 6 , 1905 . 
“ I purchased a No. 6 U. S. Separator Feb. 1, 1905, and sold 
cream the first month to the amount of $52.52, the product of 
8cows. The month previous to getting the Separator the 8 
cows produced me about $25. This herd of cows is about the 
average herd, three of them being heifers. I can heartily 
recommend the U. S. to all who want a first-class Separator. 
“H. A. DRYER.” 
Pretty profitable investment, wasn't it? Isn’t it worth 
investigating? That costs you nothing. Send for 
illustrated Catalog No. 550 -B, which will teli you all 
about it and show you how and why the Improved 
U. S. Cream Separators 
>I\KK THE LAKGF.ST PROFITS 
VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO., Bellows Falls. Vt. 
413 18 Distributing Warehouse* throughout the United State* and tailed* 
