476 
June 9, 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
Entered at New York as Second Class Matter. 
Herbert W. Collingwood, Editor. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet, i 
Mrs. k. t. Hoyle, ^Associates. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, S2.04, 
equal to 8s. 6d., or 8^ marks, or 10 Va francs. 
“A SQUARE DEAL.” 
We believe that every advertisement in this paper Is 
backed by a responsible person. But to make doubly sure 
we will make good any loss to paid subscribers sustained 
by trusting any deliberate swindler advertising in our col¬ 
umns, and any such swindler will be publicly exposed. We 
protect subscribers against rogues, but we do not guarantee 
to adjust trifling differences between subscribers and honest, 
responsible advertisers. Neither will we be responsible for 
the debts of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts 
Notice of the complaint must be sent to us within one 
month of tlie time of the transaction, and you must have 
mentioned The Rural New-Yorker when writing the adver¬ 
tiser. 
Name and address of sender, and what the remittance 
Is for, should appear in every letter. 
Remittances may be made in money order, express order, 
personal check or bank draft. 
TIIE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, JUNE 9, 1906. 
TEN WEEKS FOR 10 CENTS. 
In order to introduce The R. N.-Y. to progressive 
intelligent farmers who do not now take it, we send it 
10 weeks for 10 cents for strictly introductory purposes. 
We depend on our old friends to make this known to 
neighbors and friends. 
* 
I he New York Experiment Station at Geneva has 
now issued Volume II. of “The Apples of New York.” 
We repeat what we have said before, that this is, by 
far the best work on varieties of apples that has ever 
been issued. We also think it is in all respects the most 
creditable volume yet produced by any of our experi¬ 
ment stations! 
* 
1 he free alcohol bill passed the Senate after all. 
Here was another instance of what country people can 
do to influence legislation when they try. The Senate 
did not dare stand against the strong demands which 
came flooding upon them. We should have a parcels 
post in short order if farmers would take interest 
enough to work steadily for it. Some of them are 
indifferent, and the country storekeepers are active in 
opposing it. Shall one storekeeper have a stronger 
“pull” than 50 farmers? Are you only two per cent of 
a storekeeper? Why not find out right now? 
* 
In all this talk about the unfaithful or dangerous hired 
man, no one seems inclined to say a word for the true 
and faithful men who do their full duty and more. 
1 here are many such—we have one on the farm who 
seems as much a fixture and a necessity as the spring. 
1 here is a strange trait of human nature which prompts 
people to growl at the shortcomings of their associ¬ 
ates and begrudge a fair acknowledgement of their vir¬ 
tues. There are thousands of farmers who could testify 
to the faithful service and loyal support of hired men. 
There ought to be a new name coined for these faithful 
ones, for the service they give goes beyond the mere 
equivalent for money paid. And there are farmers who 
appreciate it. There is one serious trouble about the 
good helper. As a rule you cannot keep him long. 
He usually gets a home of his own, and he deserves it. 
He rises up out of servitude and becomes a freeholder. 
His faithful service as a helper makes him a good citi¬ 
zen wherever he goes. 
* 
What is the value of a live stock certificate of regis¬ 
try? This question has just arisen from a dispute 
which grew out of a sale of registered stock. The 
buyer is a prominent business man, the seller is an 
equally prominent breeder. The buyer claims that one 
seven-year-old cow is registered as a three-year-old, 
and that another five-year-old cow is also registered 
as a two-year-old or thereabouts. Other points at¬ 
tacking the accuracy of registry are raised, but these 
two are sufficiently definite to make a serious complaint. 
The purchaser’s contention seems to be verified by two 
well-known veterinarians who have examined the animals 
in question. The R. N.-Y. does not concern itself about 
the business or equitable features of the dispute. That 
# is a matter for the courts, if the parties to the dispute 
wish to refer to such an arbitration. The R. N.-Y. is 
concerned in the accuracy and reliability of these reg¬ 
istry records. This is a subject of public concern. It 
affects every farmer who buys or sells live stock of any 
kind. The selling price of an animal is affected by his 
registry certificate. Farmers are paying good money 
every day for that guarantee of pedigree. What is it 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKE1 
worth? Is it possible for a dishonest or careless breedefi 
to get a false certificate of registry? Is it possible to get 
a two-year-old certificate for a seven-year-old cow? 
If so, whether through dishonesty or carelessness, the 
system of registry is at fault and should be revised. No 
honest breeder of any club would stand for a system 
that made such false registry possible. Definite com¬ 
plaint has been made to the officers of the club. An 
investigation is promised. It should be thorough and 
complete. It must be; the club as well as the breeder is 
accused. Buyers of registry stock will want to know the 
truth. It is due them. 
* 
“WHERE DID HE GET IT?” 
On May 3 the following letter was sent to Mr. John 
F. Spencer, of Colorado: 
There has been some controversy as to the origin of the 
Spencer Seedless apple. I lake the liberty, therefore, of 
writing to say that we should be very much pleased to give 
you space In The R. N.-Y. in which to tell us in your own 
words just how this apple originated. It has been claimed 
that the apple is nothing more or less than a seedling now 
found in considerable quantities growing in Virginia, West 
Virginia and western Pennsylvania. It has been stated, 
however, that you originated the apple in some way and 
that you are at work at the present time upon other 
varieties, which you expect to render seedless and coreless. 
I should think it would be a matter of considerable im¬ 
portance to you and to the Company to have this question 
definitely settled, and if you will be kind enough therefore 
to tell us just exactly how the apple originated or deny 
the statement that it is obtained from the Virginia seedling 
I shall be greatly obliged to you. 
A registry receipt showed that Mr. Spencer received 
the letter, but nothing was heard from it until May 19, 
when we received a note from a New York lawyer. In¬ 
stead of answering it himself Mr. Spencer appears to 
have turned the letter over to this legal adviser of the 
Seedless Apple Co. It is, of course, his privilege to do 
so, though he must understand what would naturally be 
thought when a fair question about the ownership or the 
origin of property requires a lawyer’s help in answer¬ 
ing! Who can imagine such men as Ephraim W. Bull, 
Jacob Moore, J. L. Normand or Luther Burbank run¬ 
ning behind a lawyer for shelter when asked how their 
new fruits were originated! This lawyer says he has 
certain documents bearing on the case, and wants us to 
answer him “like a man—yes or no”—whether we will 
print them if he will send them to us. Now, we meant 
just what we said to Mr. Spencer. We would like to 
have him tell “in his own words’” where he got the 
apple. A fair amount of space is at his service. As 
for this lawyer, we have told him that if he will submit 
his documents we will, after reading them, tell him in 
five minutes how much of them we can print. It would 
be a foolish thing for any newspaper to agree to print 
any document that a lawyer might draw up. Submit 
the documents and in five minutes we can tell what 
can be done with them! This would seem like a fair 
proposition, but thus far the lawyer has failed to come 
forward, though 30 minutes’ walk would bring him to 
our office. Or, if the lawyer wants to draw up a state¬ 
ment, let John F. Spencer sign it and send it to us. Thus 
far more than 25 people have written us to say that the 
Seedless apple lacks merit, while no one has yet written 
in its favor. We have' asked some of those whose 
names are quoted in circulars to tell what they think of 
it, but they decline to answer. What we would like 
to have Mr. Spencer do is to say definitely that he orig¬ 
inated the apple, and that Mr. Charles Waters did not 
give him wood from the old Virginia Seedless. He 
ought to be able to say that without paying a lawyer 
to say it for him. Of course when he does say it he 
must be prepared for what is to follow! As we have 
stated before, the origin of the apple, would not, under 
ordinary circumstances be worth considering except as 
a matter of history. The origin of this apple has been 
complicated by certain claims made by the introducers, 
and therefore the mystery should be settled. Now, Mr. 
Spencer, is it true that vou declare under oath that 
Mr. Waters never gave you wood of the old apple? Do 
you take a similar oath that you originated the apple 
by some secret process? If so, why not cut out your 
lawyer, who does not frighten anybody, and tell us 
so in your own words? Where did you get the Seedless 
apple? 
* 
It is announced by The Florists’ Exchange that the 
United States Express Company has just doubled the 
rates charged for conveying boxes of flowers from 
certain points in New Jersey to New York, and in¬ 
creased the charges for return empties. A similar at¬ 
tempt was made to “hold up” the florists about four 
years ago, whereimon they instituted an independent 
wagon express, which has been running successfully 
ever since. As a result, the express companies went 
back to their former rates, but they evidently think the 
time is now propitious for relieving the florists of their 
spare change. However, the flower men know some¬ 
thing of the benefits of united action, and through the 
legislative committees of the New York Florists’ Club 
and the Society of American Florists they purpose in¬ 
ducing a change of heart on the part of the express 
/companies. It is quite possible that a further extension 
of the wagon express will be inaugurated. The increase 
in rates is as yet local, and the florists wish to disbud 
it before it becomes general. The farmers will cer¬ 
tainly feel ready to indorse any effort on the part of 
their florist brethren to curtail the unbounded greed 
of the express companies. From everywhere come 
complaints about the express companies—a friend in 
California sends us the following extract from a local 
paper: 
A corporation which failed to cover itself with glory 
during the recent period of California's! distress, was that 
of the Wells Fargo Express Company. If in a single distance 
its action was tinged with generosity, the people of Cali¬ 
fornia would like to hear of it. Not only were full rates 
charged for everything handled, hut their agents would not 
do business according to the emergency and as other men 
and corporations were doing, but the pound of flesh was 
demanded in cash. Thank God. when the Western Pacific 
gets down to business in California, the people will have 
an opportunity of showing their esteem for a corporation 
that made money out of thein suffering. 
We may as well be cheerful in the knowledge that all 
such things will make the people wake up on the sub¬ 
ject of parcels post. All they need is to be wide awake 
just once. 
* 
1 he hay makers who talk this week do not seem to 
be so desperately troubled over the “help” question. 
I hree months ago we told how two men—each with 
one leg—could produce a large crop of potatoes with 
little walking. With these haying tools they could 
handle grass with about as much ease. We have also 
heard of a farmer who used a Jersey bull to tramp 
down the hay in the mow. This bull was hoisted up in 
a sling by the horses that worked the hay fork and 
walked about on the hay. Last year we told of the 
method of'“roping” hay. A rope is fastened around a 
good-sized bunch and the whole thing pulled to the 
barn without loading on a wagon. We can remember 
when the hay was cut and raked by hand, with a 
mixture of sweat and hard cider. Now the horses can 
do most of it. Still it requires capital to provide the 
outfit which will substitute for the hired man, and 
make Mother and the little girl his equal in the hay field. 
* 
A Boston speculator on trial for fraud tried to sell 
stock in schemes for growing coffee and rubber in 
South America. He succeeded in obtaining financial 
backing, and apparently found many people willing to 
buy stock in a wildcat enterprise. The following extract 
is given from one of his letters: 
I lmvo found a very clever man here in Boston, and be 
said be can make us up a tree that will look like a coffee 
tree growing. I wish you would send me a bunch of 
coffee leaves and some berries and about five pounds of 
pineapple leaves. This expert can make up any kind of a 
tree, and with your help he can make a coffee tree. 
The object of this “coffee tree” was to show the won¬ 
ders of coffee growing and how much money there was 
in coffee. There certainly was money in this kind of a 
tree, though not for the stockholders. People will smile 
at this and say “you wouldn’t catch me with any such 
bait!” Then they will go out and pay big prices for 
some new fruit on the strength of what they see in a 
bottle! _ 
BREVITIES. 
Drink plenty of water! 
Is it safe to judge you by your back yard? 
Time to decide whether you will use Bordeaux on the 
potatoes. 
He who sits waiting for something to turn up Is usually 
turned down. 
That pole in the hay mow (first page) is a sort of 
liberty pole for laljor! 
A dangerous citizen—the man who is fully satisfied with 
only one side of a subject. 
Why should a New Jersey farmer support Senator John 
F. Dryden for another term? 
Wonderful! How many people there are who consider 
“You’re another” a full answer to any argument which 
corners them. 
A reader sends us the story of a neighbor who found 
fault with his man because be was three-handed. He had 
a right hand and a left hand and was always a little 
behindhand ! 
A great season for the “mulch culture” fruit growers 
thus far. Cultivation for moisture is not needed with us 
this year, and we get a rank growth of grass and weeds, 
which can be cut and spread against a dry time. 
The rich often tell what they have done for society— 
but do they stop to think what society has done for them? 
There are two sides to it. What would the railroad mag¬ 
nate do. if there were no common people to pay their dimes 
for railroad fare? 
A bill was introduced in the Massachusetts Legislature 
to compel papers and magazines to label every article for 
which they are paid as an advertisement. The bill failed to 
pass, but it shows that the public understand the game 
of selling space to advertisers and then attempting to 
palm the matter off as editorial opinion. 
Among other curious reports of the effect of the Cali¬ 
fornia earthquake is the following: 
“Hatchery Supt. F. A. Shebley reports that several thou¬ 
sand young trout fry were thrown out of the hatchery 
troughs by the earthquake, but that he succeeded in saving 
most of them by having his assistant throw water on them 
while he swept them into a dust pan and placed them 
back in the troughs.” 
