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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
June 30, 
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. 
Dk. Walter Van Fleet,/ .. 
Mrs. E. T. Boyle, j-Associates. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, 
equal to 8s. Gd., or 8^ marks, or 10 % 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 the 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. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, JUNE 0, 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. 
* 
Western stock growers think their business has been 
hurt by the packinghouse exposures. We print letters 
from some of them this week. The R. N.-Y. is ready 
to give all sides a fair hearing. That is the only way 
to discuss public matters, and we try to get away as 
far as possible from the daily papers in obtaining facts 
about agriculture. It will be seen that these stock men 
demand the most rigid government inspection, for they 
realize that only by such means can meat be really 
guaranteed. When they find fault with the President 
for publishing the facts they should realize that in no 
other way could a proper Government inspection have 
been secured. It is much like the insurance scandals. 
Nothing could have been done to improve the busi¬ 
ness if the whole disgusting details had not been 
dragged out! 
* 
Last year we mentioned a farm on which the owner 
had quit raising crops and gone to selling sand. It 
was a light farm with considerable sand suitable for 
building purposes. The soil was so leachy and dry 
that crops did not do well and the cost of manuring 
was very heavy. A new owner became tired of seeing 
crops burned up by drought so he let the grass grow 
and opened a sand pit near the road. His sales of 
sand amounted to more than could ever be obtained for 
crops. Here was a sensible change—though of course 
it could not be advised for all. Now there is a still 
further development. The farmer has bought a num¬ 
ber of molds or forms and is making concrete building 
blocks out of the sand. They are finding a ready sale 
and, of course, bring in more than the plain sand 
would. This goes to show the advantage in knowing 
what the farm is best fitted to produce and then work¬ 
ing into the production of such crops in a conservative 
way. We cannot all sell sand or building blocks, but 
are we growing the things best suited to our farms and 
condition? We are not obliged to grow the same things 
that former owners did. 
* 
Let us all understand what the “Free Alcohol” law 
is and what it means. After January 1 , 1907, grain 
alcohol may be removed from bonded warehouses with¬ 
out paying the internal revenue tax, provided it is used 
in the arts and industries or for fuel, light or power. 
Such alcohol must be mixed, in the presence of a Gov¬ 
ernment officer, with some substance which will destroy 
its character as a beverage and make it unfit for liquid 
medicinal purposes. The commissioner of internal rev¬ 
enue determines what is to be used to “denature” this 
alcohol. Any person who violates this law by taking 
free alcohol from bond without “denaturing” it, or 
who uses it for manufacturing any beverage or medi¬ 
cine is liable to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for 
five years for each offense, and all personal property 
used in connection with his business is forfeited to 
the United States. Manufacturers of other goods can, 
under suitable regulations, change the alcohol to suit 
their purpose. The object has been to permit the use 
of this alcohol for manufacturing, for light, heat or 
power, but to prevent its use as a beverage. While we 
believe this law to be a just one and that it will be of 
great advantage to manufacturers, we do not expect 
any great immediate benefit to farmers. Such benefit 
will come in time when new devices for using alcohol 
are perfected and when the demand for it is increased. 
Do not be impatient if the benefit is slow. It will come. 
* 
The orators at college commencements this year have 
had a chance—the like of which has not been known 
since the civil war. The exposures of “graft” and the 
general corruption in society and politics gave them a 
popular theme well calculated to inspire young men and 
women who have not yet tried their education on the 
hard stone of practical life. Dr. Hillis, before the New 
York City College, preached on the text “A man’s gift 
maketh room for him!” Among other things he said: 
There is always room for a man who hath a gift. Y T ours 
is the gift of an education. Toil by day and night to 
perfect it. If you had but ten years to live I should advise 
you to put in nine years of that period studying that you 
might know how to live the tenth. 
Students at agricultural colleges should have this idea 
•of the “gift” constantly held up before them. The 
Government gives them their education and has the 
right to demand loyal service in return. One of the 
strongest criticisms of the so-called “bread and butter” 
plan of education is that it squeezes out the ideal or 
spiritual side of a young man’s training. In these days 
every educated man should be inspired to develop some¬ 
thing besides the money-making machinery in his “gift.” 
for it needs but a moment’s thought to realize that the 
evils which oppress us largely come from that very 
thing. 
* 
The R. N.-Y. has for some years favored a tariff 
commission. We mean a body of strong men—not all 
lawyers and politicians, but manufacturers, business 
men, farmers, railroad men, workmen and others who 
are competent to study the tariff. The commission 
should have power to adjust tariff rates in much the 
same way that the Interstate Commerce Commission 
adjusts railroad rates. It could grant hearings, listen 
to evidence and modify tariff rates so as to serve all 
classes. It seems to ua easy to see the advantage of 
such a commission. It would take the tariff question 
very largely out of politics, as it is now it is prac¬ 
tically impossible to make any changes in the tariff 
without going over the entire list. For example there 
is now a tariff on basic or iron slag which is used as 
fertilizer. Many of us regard this tariff as useless and 
unjust yet it is not likely that Congress will ever con¬ 
sider it until a full tariff bill is made up. With such 
a commission as we suggest this item might be taken 
up alone and settled. There are other good reasons 
why the plan seems a good one. In former years we 
were met with the objection that such a commission 
would be unconstitutional. Since then Congress has 
granted the power to regulate rates to the Interstate 
Commission. If it can delegate one right in this way, 
why can it not delegate another? 
* 
Why does The R. N.-Y. oppose the nomination or 
election of Congressman James W. Wadsworth? He 
does not'fairly represent an agricultural district His 
record shows that he is not in sympathy with farmers. 
A Congressman representing New York City might 
properly be expected to act and speak in the interests of 
business or working men. In a district where manufac¬ 
turing is the chief business one would naturally expect 
the Congressman to work in the interests of manu¬ 
facturers. That is what such a man is sent to Congress 
for—to give national expression to the wishes of the 
people whom he represents. In like manner a district 
in which agriculture is the chief business ought to have 
a man in Congress who will give a fair expression of 
the needs and desires of farmers. Mr. Wadsworth is 
supposed to represent just such a district, but in our 
judgment his influence in Congress is not exerted for 
the true interests of agriculture. There are enemies 
of agriculture. Some of them are men—others are 
methods. In the fight for honest butter against oleo 
a few years ago both men and methods were opposing 
the legitimate dairy business. After much talk and 
argument the question came down to one of principle. 
The issue was clear cut and every Congressman was 
forced to take one side or the other. Mr. Wadsworth 
deliberately took the side of oleo. By so doing he be¬ 
friended the enemies of agriculture and opposed the best 
interests of the fanners of his district. Think what 
would have happened to a man representing a manu¬ 
facturing district who did his best to shut up the 
factories! In the present contest over the packinghouses 
Mr. Wadsworth is clearly wrong again. This time the 
enemies of agriculture are the filthy methods employed 
in slaughtering and packing. Nothing can save the 
meat trade of this country except the strictest inspec¬ 
tion and guarantee of the Government. Mr. Wads¬ 
worth gives the impression that he is working directly 
in the interests of the packers and doing what he can 
to weaken the power of the Government inspection. 
He has put himself squarely in opposition to the wishes- 
of President Roosevelt who clearly represents the de¬ 
sires of the American people. By so doing he again 
proves himself the enemy rather than the friend of 
the farmers who live in his district. For these and 
other good reasons we oppose Mr. Wadsworth and 
shall do all we can legitimately to defeat him. His 
district should have some man in Congress who rep¬ 
resents those who work on the soil. Mr. Wadsworth 
is said to have a strong “machine” made up of office¬ 
holders and political jobbers but all over the district 
there is open mutiny among the voters. Farmers are 
talking as they have never done before and Granges are 
denouncing the man in public meetings. The iron is hot 
for the striking and a few strong and fearless men 
can if they will, end Wadsworth! 
* 
No word yet from John F. Spencer or his lawyer 
about that Seedless apple. Others seem disposed to 
answer for him. 1 his is what T. Greiner says in 
Farm and Fireside: 
It seems to me that Mr. Spencer shows discretion in re¬ 
fusing to notice all this, that Is to him probably an annoy¬ 
ing display of inquisitiveness. It is enough having once 
for all stated that he evolved this apple “by a secret pro¬ 
cess of his own.” 
I believe, however, that I could easily duplicate the trick, 
and send out the “Jones" or “Smith" or “Greiner Seed¬ 
less” apple, and all the secret there is about It is to pre¬ 
vail on the owrer of one of the many “seedless apple" trees 
which are found in various places in Ohio, West Virginia, in 
some of the Western States, etc., to sell me the tree, or at 
least part of the scions for grafting and then topwork a 
hundred, or a thousand, or ten thousand, of young seedling 
apple trees, enabling me to soon offer to the public just 
that many of the wonderful “Jones” or “Smith" or “Greiner 
Seedless” apples, with the chances in favor of its being just 
as good a fruit as the “Spencer.” 
Perhaps we should have left Mr. Spencer alone with 
his secrets but the people want to know where that 
apple came from and of course we will take his say so 
before that of others. The greatest thing yet however 
is the offer of Sultana grapes mentioned by Mr. Van 
Deman on page 521. It doesn’t seem to make any dif¬ 
ference to the Seedless Apple Company that this grape 
is nearly 250 years old—it is “new” to them. It seems 
to be a good companion in age for the Seedless apple. 
What difference does it make that these vines can be 
bought for about one-third of a cent each? Why— 
there’s all the more profit when you can sell them at one 
dollar! Did you ever hear of a bolder or more ridicu¬ 
lous thing than offering this tender grape just because 
it is seedless? Probably the most charitable view to 
take is that John F. Spencer “evolved” this grape in 
his 'secret process” by crossing the Seedless apple 
on the wild grape. He may have been so busy at this 
work that he did not know that the s 2 ine grape came 
to California in 1861 after doing duty in the old world 
for some 200 years! That is a charitable view. If it 
is wrong Mr. Spencer can correct it when he answers 
our question— where did you get the Seedless apple ? 
BREVITIES. 
You see it pays to buy barrels ahead! 
The California honey crop is reported short. 
All things considered what is the best wood for a silo? 
The pure food bill seems to have gone into Congressional 
cold storage. 
Looks like a “fake” remedy—the Guinea hen to scare 
hawks away. 
When a farmer of over SO years sows Alfalfa—what 
about the younger men? 
As a badge to distinguish farmers we suggest a good 
corn on the inside of the hand. 
We wish more farm frosts could have as happy an ending 
as the one mentioned on first page. 
Now the farm editor sits as his desk, sees the rain pour¬ 
ing down and advises his readers “now keep the cultivators 
running.” 
The Connecticut Experiment Station tested 293 glasses 
for measuring the Babcock cream test and found only four 
inaccurate. 
The articles by Mr. Garrahan will be resumed next week, 
lie will take up the composition of a load of hay and discuss 
its fertilizing needs. 
It might be well to remember that it is not President 
Roosevelt alone, but the President speaking for a great 
majority of the American people. 
The owner of improved real property, under the laws 
of 1905, Act No. 118, of Pennsylvania, is required to main¬ 
tain one-half of the line fence, even if his neighbor alone 
uses the same. 
The California earthquake seems to have thrown many 
San Francisco men out of a job in the city and into a job 
at fruit growing. There is said to be more white labor 
for orchard work than ever before. 
California has a law which permits the County Horticul¬ 
tural Commissioners to enter and spray an infected fruit 
orchard when the owner refuses to do it. The Supreme 
Court of California has just upheld this law. 
We have been reading a great city daily for years but find 
it impossible to obtain in this paper reliable and accurate 
news regarding the railroad rate bill and packing house 
scandal. Some of the daily papers garble and distort even 
plain news. 
Some readers in New Y'ork object to what we say about 
sugar beet culture. They claim that the industry is grow¬ 
ing—^with nearly 10,000 acres in beets this year. It is said 
that the work of weeding and thinning is now done by 
gangs of Italian laborers who do the work at a certain 
price per acre. 
