1006. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
2 17 
Hope Farm Notes 
So many questions and letters have come 
crowding in of late that it seems as if I 
must notice some of them in print. 
“Happy Days.” —Here is a Connecticut 
man who knows: 
“So you were once fined for running your 
cow pony through the streets of a Colorado 
town. As an old time ‘puncher’ my heart 
goes out to you. Western Nebraska and east¬ 
ern Colorado were my stamping ground. 
And did you ‘shoot up’ the town when you 
went through, hitting only the high 
places? And what kind of pain-killer were 
you loaded with, or was it merely nature’s 
stimulant of youth and the wine-like air of 
the West? Well, as a man gets toward the 
top of the hill in life’s journey and the 
frost shows in his hair, and the stiffness in 
his joints sobers his gait, tlie old-time joys 
of youth lose their flavor, and the memories 
of reckless days become vanity and vex¬ 
ation of spirit. There are a lot of things I 
would like to forget but there are a lot more 
I keep in loving remembrance. It is nearly 
20 years since I came from the West to 
New England, but often a wave of homesick¬ 
ness or home-longing will come over me, and 
my old eyes get wet as I remember the good 
old days, when, with a good horse under me 
I pounded along at the tail of a bunch of 
•long horns,’ and the sun shone a little 
brighter then and the wind blew softer and 
sweeter than it ever lias since, and—and, 
well you know how it is yourself.” 
r. w. H. 
Know? Why, that man has things tucked 
away inside that plenty of good people never 
dream of. I try to live up to the require¬ 
ments of a good citizen, yet every Spring, 
when the grass starts, I feel the wind blow¬ 
ing over the western plains and see the moun¬ 
tains rising in the distance! I feel as if I 
would like to shake off all the burdens and 
get away to the cactus. The worst of it is 
you can't make wife and children see the 
poetry of it—they think it is almost the 
meanest sort of prose. 
As for my performance in that town! I 
didn’t try to “shoot up” anything and I don’t 
know what “pain-killer” feels like. I was 
a boy with a lively pony and a large opinion 
of my own importance. 1 wanted to see if 
tin* town marshal had what they call “sand" 
and so we went through the main street like 
shot out of a gun. We found out about the 
marshal—he had “sand" by the carload, and 
we paid our fine. I have never been up or 
rather down before the court but once since 
then. I am now in favor of jailing the rapid 
riders, but needless to sav. this idea has come 
to me since my own rapid days. 
“Hardening Up.” —While we are orf this 
subject of youth we may look over this ques¬ 
tion : 
“I have a iot of LeConte pear trees that 
bear large crops of fine looking pears, which 
are almost worthless, as they are soft at the 
core, and decay immediately. I have tried 
grafting them with Bartlett, but get no good 
results. What is the matter with the tree or 
fruit, or the grafting?” s. ir. c. 
Mt. Carmel, Conn. 
I understand that young Le Conte pear 
trees often act in this way. They do better 
ns they grow older, not unlike'the young man 
who hardens and matures his character as he 
gets on In years. We ought not to judge a 
man entirely by his boyish performances, 
though it is a great temptation sometimes to 
cut him out as you would one of these trees. 
If you want to try fertilizing them lime and 
potash will be most likely to help harden the 
fruit. 
Sweet Poisons. —Here is one from Wiscon¬ 
sin : 
“During the past two years I have set out 
several thousand apple trees on my farm, and 
have up to the present been quite fortunate 
in_ not having many of them injured by the 
mice and rabbits, both of which are found 
here in large numbers. I have used laths 
and wire screen for a protection to Hie larger 
trees, but 1 have a couple of thousand small¬ 
er trees in a garden near some old buildings, 
jot now occupied. By putting a close wire 
fence about the garden and keeping snow 
tramped down on the outside 1 have suc¬ 
ceeded in keeping the rabbits away from the 
mile trees, but recently the mice that seem to 
he unusually numerous this Winter, have been 
gnawing the bark of many of the trees. Can 
you suggest any practical way of killing or 
poisoning these mice? Strychnine soon loses 
its virtue after moisture reaches it. Paris 
green is so hitter that tlie mice will not eat 
gram soaked in it, and I am at a loss what 
to do in tlie premises. Can’t you help me 
out witli some suggestion?" s. w. p. 
i the evils of life came to .us bitter and 
hard tliis world would be a more virtuous 
place, it is the sugar-coated medicine that 
passes as candy. I have had no occasion to 
kill mice in this way, hut if it were necessary 
i would use molasses on the grain or bake a 
special cake. This cake can he made much 
ike a biscuit by mixing flour, bran, sugar, 
linking powder and white arsenic into a dough 
and baking hard. When this is crumbled up 
and scattered the mice will usually eat it—- 
and pay the penalty. But keep it away from 
farm stock. 
,, P N .'" NS and Apples. — “I would like to ask 
,, ‘ T?’ farm Man how those onions that 
vcic stiil growing October 1 came out. I 
pulled mine about that time; many of them 
never ripened, and had to be sold at a low 
price, and a large per cent “sculled” so that 
were worthless. My seed was Prize- 
ittKer. p 
Our (inioiis ripened, but were not as good 
as in loriner years. The season was against 
Uinm. we planted too late and 1 think we used 
too much manure and nitrate of soda. Tfiis 
year we shall start the seed earlier and cither 
use more wood ashes or lime and potash. 
Here is a good citizen: 
“I read in your issue of last week of a 14- 
months-old member of the Apple Consumers’ 
League. I think I have the youngest member, 
as he is only eight months old, and he can eat 
an apple with the best of them and hardly a 
day passes that he does not eat one. I have 
six children and they are all very fond of 
apples.” mrs. j. e. w. 
Eight months old and capable of eating his 
apple a day ! Who wants a better start in 
life than that? Six children and all fond 
of apples! There are half a dozen jewels. 
Not one will lie likely to grow up a drinker, 
and they will all keep hold of the country and 
farm life. I wouldn’t mind having just such 
a family to provide apples for. What a 
shame it; would lie to feed Ben Davis apples 
to the little one! 
Home and Farm. —The “Setting Hen” sign 
in front of the farm brought results. Two 
Plymouth Rocks of good size and staying 
qualities are now down cellar warming the 
life In Rhode Island Red eggs. One man 
saw the sign and informed us that lie had 
“broken up” four hens already and had a 
job doing it. We don't want any more liens 
broken up. We get an idea this year of the 
poor quality of hatching eggs in Winter. We 
set every egg from our expensive birds, pro¬ 
vided the shape and size are passable, but 
out of the first 20 only three were fertile. 
We took the 17 out and put others in their 
place under the hen. to keep her going.. 
. An appropriate way of celebrating Wash¬ 
ington's Birthday seemed to us clearing up a 
field for planting apple trees. The boys cut 
a few wild cherry trees and I had no reason 
to find fault. The field where we worked had 
a three and four year’s growth of White 
birch. We cut this down with brush scythe 
and ax. The larger trees will be trimmed for 
Lima bean poles, and tlie brush burned. We 
shall probably do this some night, making a 
sort of picnic of it. At the proper time apple 
trees will be planted. The young sprouts on 
the birch will lie cut and thrown around the 
trees; a little lime will also l>e scattered 
there and leaves piled around. There are sev¬ 
eral acres of this rough land to he cleared in 
this way. We are planning to plant about 
600 trees all told. ... I observe that 
most people are hurrying the hotbeds earlier 
than usual. They will not gain much, for the 
season as a whole will not he much ahead. 
We are making a number of plant boxes 
out of old fence boards. They will lie filled 
with soil and used for starting plants, for we 
want to try all sorts of transplanting this 
year. Among others we shall try starting 
early potatoes in these boxes, and transplant¬ 
ing them later. We have both succeeded and 
failed with tills in former years. It may be 
our turn to succeed this season; at least, we 
won’t know unless we try. . . . The boy 
came out the other day in considerable trou¬ 
ble. He had been reading “The Last of the 
Mohicans,” and forget to do his work. That 
meant (rouble enough, but there was worse. 
He had just reached the place where Hawk- 
eve and tlie Mohicans ran in upon those In¬ 
dians and killed all but one. What troubled 
the boy was that this one that got away was 
that old rascal, Le Iteynard Subtle, who was 
sure to make trouble for them yet. 
“Oh, why didn’t they make sure of him, 
anyway !” 
The boy was so troubled that lie went back 
and looked at the last page of the book to 
see how it came out. 
“It’s all right,” lie said, “a bullet from 
Killdeer ended Dim"—and that trouble was 
over. It. is better to work these things out 
and have faith in the author, but now and 
then there is one so had that it seems as if 
we must skip through and make sure of the 
end. After all it is better to have faith and 
go on. H. w. c. 
Make 
By 
Using 
Wonder 
Plow 
Trucks. 
This truck will fit any beam, 
rigid or left, one or two horse, 
wood or steel plow. A boy can 
handle it with ease, most of tlie 
time without his hand on the 
plow. Regulates perfectly 
depth and width of furrow. Will balance plow in 
hard, dry, stony soil, and save a third of draft on 
horses. The plowman does not need to hold plow 
handles. Works perfectly in tall grass or weeds, 
turning them completely under. Thousands in use. 
If it does not do all of these things, you can 
send it back and we will not only return your 
money but pay the freight both ways. 
Write for our booklet “Progress in Plowing.’’ Agents wanted 
everywhere. Retail price $5. Get special agents proposition. 
Wonder Plow Co., 327 Factory St., St. Clair. Mich. 
Let Us Build 
Your Buggy 
We will build it to your order, save you $20 
to $25 on tho price, and take all chances of 
suiting you. Our large catalog explains 
this fully; tells how we ship orders with¬ 
out money and 
quotes wholesale 
prices on 200 
styles of vehicles 
and har¬ 
ness. 
Mailed 
free on 
request. 
It tells 
all about 
our 
Columbia King $ 50 Buggy 
which would cost you at least $75 if bought 
at retail, and gives many valuable hints on 
selecting any kind of a rig. Before you buy 
be sure to write for our catalog and special 
offer. Address, 
Columbia Mfg. & Supply Cofomlmnati^o.’ 
U. N.-Y. and you’ll got a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 18. 
Two 
Wagons 
for the 
Price 
Of One 
The Nilburn 
Wagon 
The Milburn Wagon is so well made, and 
all weak points so carefully strengthened that 
though you may pay more for it than for a 
cheaper wagon, at tlie end of one or two 
years you are money ahead. Wily?—Because 
you have had no breakage or repairs, no petty 
annoyances that cause delay and cost money. 
Any man who will buy two wagons at the 
same time, and keep track of tlie cost of re¬ 
pairs and lost time and examine his wagons 
at the end of each year will soon discover that 
it pays big to buy a good wagon. 
Take for 
exam pie, . - __ 
our bol- -m t L ' v ~ 1 ' 
sterplates. 
They are 
made of 
malleabl e 
iron.which 
costs two 
or three 
times as 
much as wrought iron. And they weigh three 
times as much as the plain plates used on 
other wagons. 
But look at the cut; notice how the little 
cups are made to fit into each other; no strain 
on the king bolt there. 
And the flanges at D. D. project so well 
down over the sand board and bolster that 
these parts can never split on a MILBURN 
wagon. 
If you have read our advertisements you 
will know that this is just one point out of 
dozens where the MILBURN Wagon shines 
over all others. 
If you want to know all of these points; 
if you want to read a book that will help 
you to judge of wagons so accurately that 
you will be an expert buyer, send us your 
name. 
We have just printed such a book and will 
be glad to send you a copy FREE. 
Milburn Wagon Company, 
Dept. R Toledo, Ohio 
TRADE 
Your Old 
Buggy fora 
New One 
We are selling the entire 
output of a buggy top and re¬ 
pair factory at less than reg- 
ular factory prices. You can make yoor Ola buggy 
look like new for only a few dollars. 
Eiqht Factories With One Selling 
Head. Entire Output direct 
to you. 
The entire output of eight factories making Bug¬ 
gy Tops and Supplies, Vehicles of all kinds, Paints 
and Varnishes, Steel Ranges, Sewing Machines. 
Farm and Blacksmith Tools, Steel Wheels and 
Handy Wagons, Telephones and Supplies. 
All combined to cut down selling expense and de¬ 
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low prices. 
Write for Big Free Catalog. 
describing and Illustrating the output of all of our 
factories In one big volume. Tho greatest selling 
plan ever devised, to save money for the buyer, 
plainly and clearly explained. The Book Is free. 
Write for it. 
THE UNITED FACTORIES CO., 
Dept, 31 Cleveland, O. 
CARRIAGES 
Buggies and Harness 
We sell direct to users at whole¬ 
sale prices. By buying 
direct from us you suve 
middlemen’s profits, and 
get everything the latest, 
best and most durable. 
Our 1906 free catologue 
DrT .,, .tells about ournomoney 
L D R1C E _ $45. * with order plan, 2 years 
guaranty, freight offer and how we ship anywhere 
on approval and 30 DAYS FREE TRIAL. 
We make 160 styles of vehicles from $28.50 up 
and 100 styles of harness from $4.50 up. Don’t buy 
vehicles or harness until you have heard from us. 
Write today for Free Money-Saving Catalogue. 
U. S. BUGGY & CART CO., 
ISta. 737, Cincinnati, O. 
SAVE MONEY 
By Buying Direct From Our Factory 
anything you may need in the way of a vehicle or 
harness. Wo make a complete lino and offor tho largest 
choice of styles and variety. With us it is QUALITY 
first, price afterward. Thero may bo “cheaper ’ buggies 
than ours, but we can prove there arc none better. 
We hare pleased 
thousands of others 
and can do tho 
same for you. 
Remember our 
GUARANTEE 
“Satisfaction 
r Money 
Back.” 
Write to-day for our new 
Catalog. It is FREE. 
THE COLUMBUS CARRIAGE 
& HARNESS CO. 
3124 South High St., 
Columbus 
Ohio. 
desired, and give 
with a written gnarantei 
Save Dealers’ Profits. 
UNION BUGGY 
THERE ARE REASONS 
* Let Us “Show You ” 
How and why we can sell you this $75.00 Buggy 
for $40.00. Investigate, we will help you. Ask 
for our 200 page illustrated Style 
Book Free. You are not prepared 
to get the best for your money un¬ 
til you have it. W heels and gears 
made of selected “Shell Bark” 
Hickory, rolled steel tires, forged 
steel axles, oil tempered springs. 
Old fashioned oil and lead hand 
painting. We ship on approval, 
without one cent in advance, when 
30 DAYS FREE TRIAL 
for Two Years. Money refunded on all purchases not satisfactory. 
We build 150 styles of Vehicles, 50 styles of Harness. Ask the 
CO., No. 75 Saginaw St., Pontiac, flich. 
You 
I Want to Write You 
a Personal Letter 
—Will You Send Me Your Name and Address on a Postal Ctrd? 
I want to tell you of our legal binding Guarantee for two years. 
I want to tell you how Split Hickory Vehicles are sold direct to you from our factory- 
saving you about 40% on the cost of your vehicle. 
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I want to tell you how we were able to build up the biggest mall order vehicle business 
in the world and of the great reputation we have made on the Quality of our work. 
I want to tell you about Split Hickory—and why It Is far superior to any other material 
used in Vehicle construction. 
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Special. 
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—a genuine, trade-marked Split Flickory Buggy—rather than to buy one from a factory 
making cheap buggies under contract to be sold by mail order houses. Such buggies may 
seem low in price—but in reality they are the dearest buggies a man can buy. 
Our 1906 Split Hickory Vehicle Book is just off the press. 
I take great pride in the fact that it is the finest vehicle and harness catalogue ever issued 
by anyone. It contains 180 pages and gives full description and price of over 100 styles of 
genuine Split Hickory Vehicles ranging in price 
from S35 up. 
Will you let me send you this letter? 
Will you let me send you this 180 page 
book free? 
It doesn’t matter where or from whom 
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You will then know what your buggy 
ought to cost you. 
Split Hickory Vehicles are 
used everywhere. We have thou¬ 
sands of testimonials from every 
state. 
Let me send you this letter, 
_ and this new book. Address, 
I H. C. PHELPS, President, 
Th* Ohio Carriage Mfg. Company, 
Station 290 Cincinnati, 0. 
This is our 
’* Split Hickory 
Special” 19U6 
Model-$50—Sold 
on 30 duys’ free 
trial — two year 
Iron Olad Guar¬ 
antee. 
