1906. 
699 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
Hope Farm Notes 
Farm Notes. — Now, then, hozv about 
this lawn? That is Mother’s war cry just 
now, and I must say it is needed to stir 
our folks up to the noblest deeds. It is 
a mean job to make a large lawn on rough 
ground. The meanest of all is the grad¬ 
ing. We have killed out the old sod pret¬ 
ty well, but there are little hollows and 
ridges left which must be smoothed 
down. Who likes to do such work when 
the second cut of grass is ready, and corn 
cutting nearly here, and peaches to pick 
and handle? And yet the lawn must be 
made. The women folks are after us, and 
we are to quit other work and try to finish 
the lawn. It came to be something of a 
study as to how to arrange the driveways 
to the house. In our country a good lawn 
is a profitable investment, because more 
and more people are driving along our 
roads on the lookout for homes. A well- 
kept lawn around a good house with con¬ 
venient drives helps to sell property. We 
have finally decided to have the drive 
enter straight from the road to the house 
steps, then one branch curve to the right 
around a big apple tree for a “turn¬ 
around,” while the other curves off by 
the side of the house to the barn. My 
plan is to dig and scrape out this drive¬ 
way, and use the soil for filling in around 
the house, and then to rake up the stone’s 
and pack them in the driveway. Covered 
with gravel and pounded down hard this 
ought to make a good roadbed. . . 
Our pigs are making a splendid growth 
this year, better, I think, than ever be¬ 
fore. They live largely on what they grub 
out of the orchard soil and the wastes 
from the garden, such as weeds, cabbage 
and vegetables. We have rigged up a big 
.iron kettle in which the small potatoes are 
boiled. The pigs are very fond of them, 
and with a small quantity of grain fed in 
addition are growing into cheap and ex¬ 
cellent pork. In about three weeks we 
shall begin to feed more grain, so as to 
get our first porkers ready for killing at 
Thanksgiving. Most of them will go un¬ 
til Christmas. . . . The pansy seqds 
are in the ground, following Mr. Hart¬ 
man’s directions as nearly as possible. If 
all goes well we ought to have enough 
plants for a nice trade next Spring, but 
we count neither trade nor chickens before 
they are hatched. . . . The straw¬ 
berries make great growth these days. 
We have kept them cultivated and hoed 
and finger-worked, and now we get re¬ 
sults. Those small plants that were set in 
October of last year looked poor enough 
this Spring, and I was advised to plow 
them up and try again. I decided to stay 
by them, and by hard and constant work 
we have brought them through until now 
they stand in thick, matted rows as vig¬ 
orous as you could wish. We shall get 
our reward next June, when those big 
berries show up. 
Driving Off Witches. —We have all 
sorts of questions, but this one from 
Maryland is in a class by itself: 
Could you send me a book to keep the 
witches away, and how to cure for them? 
They are so bad here. If you can send me 
one I see everything else In if you can sell 
me one for 10 cents. 
I have heard it said that The R. N.-Y. 
is varied, but if we discuss everything but 
witch killing we can easily make it com¬ 
plete. I suggest the Bible as a good book 
to make witches get out. The ninth 
chapter of Romans is a good cure for 
them, and I doubt if the last one would 
make much of a stand before an earnest 
recital of the Lord’s Prayer. Then you 
might read Whittier’s poem, “The Garri¬ 
son of Cape Ann,” and other of his poems 
like “The Changeling,” in which is shown 
how faith in God put an end to belief in 
witches. 
Stone Drains. —Here is one from New 
York, like dozens of others at this season: 
Please explain bow to build a drain. I 
have lots of stone. Would they be good to 
make drains? If so, how would you • use 
them? My land is yellow clay subsoil. ITow 
deep would it be necessary to dig, and how 
much fall would be required? Please give 
a good description, as there are no drains 
built around here; in fact, I have never 
seen one built. 
I can only tell what we did last Fall. 
We had a low, swampy field on the lower 
farm, which never produced half a crop. 
Water stood in little pools all over it 
There was quite a slope to the northeast, 
and after getting the lay of the land by 
sighting we dug ditches, so as to give 
about 16 inches of fall in 25 rods. Main 
ditches were dug in the hollows, or where 
the land sloped in and smaller side ditches 
leading to these main ditches. The depth 
varied all the way from three to five feet. 
In this case we struck small springs 
underground, so that the flow of the 
water told us when the grade was right. 
On a more level field I should have sight 
ed over it with a spirit level before start¬ 
ing, and thus got an exact grade. When 
the ditch was finished we picked up large 
stones as flat as possible, and scattered 
them along the ditch. Then a man got 
down into the ditch and began making the 
“throat” or opening for the water. This 
was done by putting two stones on their 
edges at the sides of the ditch, and a 
third flat one on top, so as to cover the 
opening between the other two. The side 
stones were not all flat—it makes little 
difference about this, provided a fair-sized 
water course is left between them. As 
fast as this throat was laid the ditch was 
filled in with smaller stones, which were 
picked up all over the field and from 
nearby places. The stones were filled to 
within abort a foot of the top, and then 
the soil was thrown back over the ditch. 
Care was taken to leave the outlet of the 
ditch large enough to empty well. It is 
easy to tell about this, but quite a little 
experience is needed to do the work right. 
Our drain works well. I find that we did 
not put in enough side drains, but except 
for two small pockets this worthless field 
has given us the best crop of corn we ever 
had—and without any manure or ferti¬ 
lizer. At its best I do not think a stone 
drain can equal good tile. Still, the stone 
work is cheaper and gives a good chance 
to get rid of worthless stone. But do not 
under any circumstances make a drain 
without a large firm “throat” at the bot¬ 
tom. Make this throat of large stones 
and fit them securely in place. I have seen 
people dig a ditch and simply fill it with 
loose stones, then fill with soil. Don’t do 
it. The chances are you have sins and 
mistakes enough to answer for now. 
Home Notes. —Early in September there 
came a little touch of chill in the air, and 
one night we. started a fire in our fireplace 
in the old house. The days have short¬ 
ened so that there is no light for the boys 
to play ball after supper. The moon comes 
sailing along the sky before we can finish 
the meal, and lamps are needed. Surely 
Summer is about over. Our crops are 
made, such as they are. As I go about 
here and there I find some sad and de¬ 
spondent people who do not look hope¬ 
fully to the Winter. They dread to see 
the leaves fall, and do not see pleasure or 
hope in the Winter season. I am sorry 
for such people. The great trouble with 
them is that they have only one idea of 
growth. The Winter season gives farmers 
a chance for reading and study and 
thought, which ought to _ round out the 
year’s work. I can imagine a Cuban or 
a Brazilian coming to our country in No¬ 
vember when the leaves are falling. Some 
morning he looks out of the window and 
finds the trees standing dead and bare, 
with the ground frozen solid, and the air 
full of stinging sleet and snow. One could 
almost excuse such a man for thinking in 
his heart that God had laid a curse upon 
the earth, and that life could never come 
back to the trees. Yet we who had seen 
year after year the leaves fall and the 
trees stand still through the cold only to 
burst forth again stronger than ever would 
smile at this man’s lack of faith, because 
we know what is to follow. I sometimes 
think that people face the Winter season 
as hopelessly as that Cuban regards the 
trees. I do not feel that way. Our folks 
are looking forward to a busy and happy 
time. There will be long evenings before 
the fire and around the lamp with books 
and games and music. The children are 
eager for the ice and the snow. We are 
picking out books to be read and work to 
be done, and if our folks do not turn out 
in April better for the Winter it will be a 
strange thing. Aunt Jennie is just going 
back to the South with the babies. We 
have had a Tnerry household with all these 
happy children about. It is a great thing 
to carry children into the Winter season 
with us. The next best thing is to try to 
keep hold of the spirit of the child in our 
own hearts. Nonsense! Some hard- 
headed old fellow will say, why talk non¬ 
sense when there are so many practical 
things to discuss? A little touch of senti¬ 
ment will make these very practical things 
more useful and lasting! h. w. c. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee, page 8. 
MB02i2E«#D 
The Boot for wear, and the Brand 
to distinguish it from the kind 
made from remelted junk rubber. 
Buffalo Brand boots are made from 
pure new rubber on light canvas, 
and won’t crack. Send for our 
booklet C, and enclose lOcts. to 
cover postage and packing and we 
will send you our handsome Buf¬ 
falo Watch Fob FREE. 
WM. H. WALKER & CO„ 
77-83 So. Pearl St., Buffalo, N. Y. 
GRAIN DRILL 
Easily 
Fully 
Guaranteed 
r ,. ' The YORK FORCE FEED DRILL combines 
lightness with strength. Most complete drill made. No 
complex gearing to get out of order. Boxes are close to 
ground. E; " ~ 
regulates 
quantity 
of seed 
or fer¬ 
tilizer, 
i WARD¬ 
ED GOLD 
MEDAL ii^ II ■! Illlll llll Ill III ■ I l| .Ilil 
World’s 
Fair. 
Weight, 
Only 700 lbs. 
A gents Wanted. 
Write for catalogue. 
THE HENCH & DROMGOLD CO 
Mfrs., York, Pa. HAWK ALSO WITH DISC 
NO PAINTING REQUIRED 
on Arrow Brand 
Asphalt Kpiuly 
Roofing. CanLe 
easily laid, as 
the work only 
consists of nailing and cementing joints. Send to 
Department 7 for Catalog G, prices and Samples 
ASPHALT READY ROOFING CO. 
SO Pine Street New York City 
Beware of cheap imitations made from Tar. 
BEATS THE 
Grindstone 
TEN TIMES OVER / 
No pressure, no drawing 
temper, if you use the 
Practical 
Alundum 
Grinder 
with wheel revolving 
3,000 times a minute. 
Far superior to emery 
or stone. Grinds any 
tool, knife to sickle. 
Different sizes. Foot 
power attachment. 
Write for circular of particu¬ 
lars. Good agents wanted. Address, 
ROYAL MHk C0„ 226 E. Walnut St., Lancaster, Pa. 
HAY presses 
1 1 THE HENDRICKS 
Press will Earn its Cost in One 
Season. A postal with your name and 
address on the back 
will bring you our 
Free Catalog. 
D. B. Hendricks & Co. 
Cornell St. 
KINGSTON, N. Y. 
Most roofings require paint immedi-1 
ately to keep them from rotting and 
rusting. Lincoln Flint Coated Roofing can be 
put on any building in any climate 
without paint. Water-proof and fire¬ 
proof. Send today for FREE samples, 
illustrated cata¬ 
log and special 
prices, 
Lincoln Waterproof 
Cloth Co. 
702 Church St. 
BOUND 
BROOK, 
H.l. 
The only roofing 
sold on a money- 
back guaranty. 
READ OUR TRIAL OFFER. 
I F YOU want the most durable and most 
economical roofing you can buy, please 
read the guaranty we give on Paroid. 
We can and do give you this guaranty be¬ 
cause Paroid is the best ready roofing ever 
made. 
If you will compare a sample of it with 
others, you can see and 
feel the difference. 
Use your own judg¬ 
ment. 
Put your samples out 
in freezing weather and 
then try to bend them. 
Paroid will be soft and 
pliable. 
The others will all 
break and crack! 
The difference is in 
the way they are made. 
We make the felt for 
Paroid in our own mills, 
established in 1817. We 
know how and tve take 
no chances. 
Other manufacturers 
buy their felt, the most 
importantpartofaready 
roofing, where they can 
get it the cheapest, and run big risks at the 
very start. 
We saturate the felt in a compound of our 
own, that renders every fibre of it water 
proof. Soaked , mind you, not merely dipped. 
We coat it with the toughest.strongest, thick- 
Paroid 
Roofing 
est, smoothest, most flexible and most durable 
coating used in any ready roofing ever made. 
You can see and feel that for yourself. 
Then we give you with every roll of Paroid 
a complete roofing kit, containing our patent¬ 
ed caps—the only rust-proof cap made. 
Water can’t rust them and cause them to 
work loose and spring a 
leak as all other caps do. 
These are some of the 
reasons why Paroid has 
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Send today for free 
samples. Enclose 4c in 
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of plans for practical 
farm and poultry build¬ 
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If your dealer will not 
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We pay the freight. 
F. W. BIRD & SON, 
29 Mill Street, East Walpole, Mass. 
1429 Monadnock Bldg., Chicago, Ill. 
UY one lot of Paroid; 
open it; inspect it; ap¬ 
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and if then you are not 
satisfied that you have the best 
ready roofing made, send us 
your name and address, and 
we will send you a check for 
the full cost of the roofing 
including the cost of shipping. 
direct. 
Here's the business end. 
It shows where the troubles lie with most 
spreaders. , , 
See the solid steel brace from beater’s end 
to the axle. That gives it the most solidly 
seated beater made. 
Then note the drive chain. There could 
not be a more direct application of power 
from wheel to beater. 
And that’s all important. We learned by 
experience to do away with the gear drive; 
that power must be applied direct; that the 
steel pin chain beats anything else for trans¬ 
mitting power from wheel. 
Harpoon teeth (new feature) cut all straw 
and keep beater ends clean. 
Adjustable Pulverizer Rake is an exclusive 
Success feature—makes manure as fine or 
coarse as wanted. 
These are just a few Success features— 
things that go to make up the superiority 
it enjoys over other spreaders. 
The large axle in the Success is another 
Success- 
There’s Hard Work 
at this End 
of a Spreader 
ing to remember. Larger than in any 
ther spreader. Experience shows the 
necessity. 
Its frame is second growth white ash. 
Never a set screw to hold parts to shafting. 
It has a force feed which is under per¬ 
fect control. Fast as wanted, slow as 
wanted, locked going up hill or down, no 
racing of apron. 
These are pointers. 
They are on the Success spreader because 
experience covering nearly 80 years has 
demonstrated that they are essentials. 
Experience should count for something. 
Don’t get the impression that manure 
spreaders are all alike or nearly alike. Don’t 
be misled by a startling advertising head¬ 
line. 
Do a little investigating before you buy. 
Inquire of other users. You will find al¬ 
most as many Success spreaders in use as all 
other makes combined. 
The Success Spreader book tells a truthful 
story and tells it plainly. It will help you. 
Let us send you a copy. 
KEMP & BURPEE MANUFACTURING CO. 
Box 38, Syracuse, N. Y. 
