December 1, 
9o2 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Rural New-Yorker 
TUE 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. », Associates 
Mrs. E. T. Hoyle, fAssociates. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, >2.04, 
equal to Ks. 0d., or HVa marks, or 10 l /j 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, DECEMBER 1, 1900. 
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. 
* 
Now there is a call for a convention to help “extend 
the foreign commerce of the United States.” If there 
could be a fair distribution of profits and incomes in 
this country there would be little need of any foreign 
market. With a parcels post, fair express and railroad 
fates, free markets and fair competition, a plainer stand¬ 
ard of living and an abundance of farm labor, there 
would be little surplus to get rid of. There is a better 
market among the farm homes of this country than 
Europe can furnish. 
* 
The Berea Quarterly, a little magazine published in 
interests of Berea College, Kentucky, gives this orig¬ 
inal dialogue between mountaineers: 
New-come “Furriner” : “How much do you mean by ‘a 
heap’ anyway ?’’ 
Placid Native: “Wall, I allow a heap is ekel ter several 
‘right smarts.’ ” 
Now gentlemen, scientists, institute speakers and 
others, here was a man who sought information. Did 
he get it? People often ask you about things that you 
discuss. Do you make them understand it as you do? 
* 
“Who Killed Cock Robin?” In the old nursery 
rhyme the birds came forward to claim the credit—after 
the robin was dead. Men seem like children grown up. 
We are amused to see how people are coming forward 
to claim credit for the victory in the Thirty-fourjh 
District. Some who hesitated to express themselves 
before election are now patting themselves on the back 
in public. In this case “Cock Robin” is dead, and we 
would better let him rest. The credit belongs to the 
farmers who split those tickets with a broad ax and 
then drove the splinters in. They have gone back to 
work, while the self-appointed “saviors” are doing 
the talking. 
* 
The Mark Lane Express of England has this to say 
about English farmers and legislation: 
Pleading and plaintive is the voice of agriculture, the 
most important industry in the country, instead of being 
strong, powerful, and commanding as it ought to be; in 
fact, a veritable power in the land. Agriculture asks for 
things as favors which it ought to demand as rights, and 
its gentle murmurings have been heard so long that they 
have little or no effect on the powers that be. 
These farmers in the Thirty-fourth District didn’t go 
softly hat in hand with voices “pleading and plain¬ 
tive!” The stamp of their boots was heard above the 
roar of Niagara. There is no use being “ladylike” 
when it comes to a rough-and-tumble. The New Jer¬ 
sey farmers are not going to defeat Senator Dryden 
by asking members of the Legislature if they won’t 
please vote against him. Tell them, right up and 
down, that you don’t want him, and state why. 
* 
The Interstate Commerce Commission is now con¬ 
fronted by problems similar to those that render the 
decisions of the Treasury Department such a source of 
joy. They are trying to decide whether potatoes are 
fruit. The railway rate law provides that railways 
may furnish transportation to caretakers who travel 
with perishable fruit, and the potato-carrying roads, 
who have been in the habit of giving such transporta¬ 
tion with potato shipments, wish to know whether they 
may continue to do so, without infringing the anti-pass 
provision of the law. The Colorado melon growers, 
too, are asserting that their products are fruit (which 
seems botanically accurate) and they too are entitled 
to free transportation for caretakers. The decision as 
to the social status of the useful potato will be quite 
interesting, and in the meantime it is probable that an 
extensive list of fruits, all of them entitled to chaperons 
with free passes, will claim recognition from,the Com¬ 
mission. 
* 
We begin to receive letters about that trouble over 
proper registration of Jersey cattle. One of them is 
printed on page 898. All thus far say The R. N.-Y. 
is fully justified in calling for an investigation. Con¬ 
fidence is expressed that the A. J. C. C. will reopen the 
matter and settle it. It is hard to see how the club can 
well do otherwise. It is claimed that one party to the 
controversy stated that he knew who would be ap¬ 
pointed to investigate in case any investigation tobk 
place. The inference was that such a committee would 
be “packed” so as to favor one side. This charge alone 
should lead the A. J. C. C. to investigate at once. There 
seems to be no other honorable course for the managers 
to follow. Mr. Morse on page 898 suggests that the 
buyer of these cattle has mistaken their identity. We 
understand that the breeder came to the farm and per¬ 
sonally identified the cattle; which were marked by a 
reliable and well-known man. As this is a matter 
which interests owners and breeders of Jersey cattle we 
welcome any expression of opinions from them— 
whether it be comment or criticism. We have learned 
that the way to do things is to appeal to those who 
are honestly interested and keep at it. 
* 
Apparently the tramp plague has reached the Phil¬ 
ippines, as we are told that the civil authorities are 
much troubled by vagrants and other undesirable per¬ 
sons who refuse to work, and who threaten to become 
charges upon the Government. The authorities have 
been shipping these “hoboes” to this country on the 
army transports (as though we hadn’t enough al¬ 
ready!) but hereafter this will be impossible under a 
law enacted at the last session of Congress. The only 
way out of the difficulty will be to authorize the trans¬ 
portation and charge the cost of it to the insular 
government. Personally, we believe in the Scriptural 
attitude—“he that will not work, neither shall he eat” 
—and while we probably provide a good many meals 
for the undeserving during the course of a year, we 
make some effort at discrimination, and refuse to supply 
any of these pilgrims with money. It is an exaspera¬ 
tion beyond words to see husky men demanding food 
as their right without offering any equivalent in re¬ 
turn, while farming industries everywhere are crippled 
for want of any sort of help. The fact is we have 
been entirely too sentimental in our treatment of such 
wastrels, and we are reaping a harvest of crime and 
terrorism as the result. Our poorly-policed cities and 
wholly unprotected rural districts make it too easy 
for the idle tramp to become the murderous marauder 
—the “yeggman” of criminal slang. That such people 
should get free transportation to the United States, 
when they should be put to labor for the public benefit 
in the Philippines, seems to us simply a shuffling of 
responsibilities. They are certainly less desirable here 
than many aliens whom we send back. 
* 
On November 9 we sent the following letter to 
Hon. John F. Dryden, Senator from New Jersey: 
The R. N.-Y. has a large number of readers in New 
Jersey, many or all of them deeply interested in legislation 
affecting the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine. Dairy 
farmers in particular consider this, perhaps, the most 
important legislation that can come before Congress. It 
is generally understood among farmers of the State that 
you voted against the Grout bill, which taxed colored oleo, 
and the result of wb'ch has been greatly advantageous to 
the dairy interests. It is also inferred, we think, that you 
would favor a bill, which, we understand, is to be introduced 
in Congress, removing this tax in the interests of the 
manufacturers of oleo. This matter will, without doubt, 
come up during this year’s Senatorial contest. We don’t 
like to make any statements at random, and therefore take, 
the liberty of asking you to be kind enough to tell us 
why you were not in favor of the Grout bill. Possibly your 
reasons for taking the position you did would appeal to the 
farmers of the State. We would also like very much indeed 
to have you tell us what you will do in case the matter 
is brought up again in Congress. Would you favor a bill 
removing the tax from colored oleo? We can assure you 
that these matters are of vital importance to farmers of the 
State. It is doubtful if any public question at this time 
would be considered of greater importance to them than 
this. We shall highly appreciate, therefore, any opinion 
or information you may give us regarding your views. 
It will be remembered that we once wrote Senators 
Platt and Depew of New York asking what they would 
do about a parcels post. Mr. Platt said he would con¬ 
sider such a bill if it got to the Senate. Mr. Depew 
said he was thinking about it. Mr. Dryden seems to be 
a greater “statesman” than either, for he doesn’t say a 
word. His silence has the strength of Gibraltar—it is 
very impressive. It impresses one with the belief that 
lie is an oleo man who would not dare to admit publicly 
what he will do when the effort is made to remove the 
oleo tax. If any farmer in New Jersey will give us one 
sound reason why Mr. Dryden should be elected we will 
thank him for it. The farms of New Jersey earned 
last year for their owners $75,934,491. This great busi¬ 
ness is just as much entitled to consideration as the 
insurance business or the railroads. Think of the folly 
of sending to the Senate a man who not only has no 
sympathy with agriculture, but who is on record as an 
avowed enemy of it. As judged by his record on the 
oleo question, Mr. Dryden is such an enemy, and has 
no right to ask a farmer to support him. Yet, strange 
to say, he looks for election to those counties where 
farmers are most numerous. Stick a stamp on your 
legislator! Get tzuo cents’ worth of glory! 
* 
We have rather neglected our old friend the Seedless 
apple of late—other matters having demanded attention. 
Let us bring history up to date. John F. Spencer has 
not yet told us where he got the apple! It may be con¬ 
sidered as proven therefore that Mr. Van Deman and 
Mr. Waters were right in saying that the “Seedless” is 
nothing but a worthless old seedling variety from Vir¬ 
ginia. If this is false the light still holds out for Mr. 
Spencer to deny it. We have received specimens of 
three different “Seedless” apples and reports of several 
more—not one of them of any commercial value. The 
Seedless apple people seemed to think the Canadians 
were more likely to buy their trees than the Yankees. 
An ex-minister of agriculture, John Dryden (not the 
oleo Senator from New Jersey), contributed a “write¬ 
up” for the apple in which he certainly earned his salary. 
At the Ontario Fruit Growers’ Association a special 
committee overhauled the Seedless apple—taking the sap 
out of Mr. Dryden’s report: 
They found several objectionable features, which appar¬ 
ently contradicted the printed description of the fruit. The 
core, they said, was undoubtedly smaller than In other 
apples, but there was still sufficient to make coring neces¬ 
sary. The lack of the calyx tube left an abnormally large 
and deep opening extending down to. the core and causing 
a loss of flesh almost equal to a normal core, and affording 
as well a refuge for insect pests. This space also contained 
a mold-like accumulation, which was pronounced very objec¬ 
tionable. Besides these defects the committee said that the 
apples contained well-developed seeds, though less numerous 
than in the normal apple. In size the seedless fruit was 
about equal to the Faraeuse or the Snow, and the flavor 
compared with the Ben Davis. Their inspection, in the 
opinion of the committee, warranted them in advising that 
the trees producing this fruit should be purchased only 
as a curiosity. 
That is sensible advice. The apple appears to be a 
curiosity and little more. Who wants to turn his 
orchard into a curiosity shop? Not the man who ex¬ 
pects to make his living. 
BREVITIES. 
What makes a man’s temper hot? The icehouse that 
won’t keep Ice I 
The spineless cactus may be all - right, but there is a 
greater need of the spinier man. 
The man who does really great things for. his counfry 
answers a call which comes from no human lip. 
A man’s mouth is hung on hinges not solely for conveni¬ 
ence in opening, but that it may be kept shut part of the 
time. 
A Massachusetts reader who went back to the farm 
savs: “I was born with an earthly tendency; that Is, I 
like the soil, like to manipulate it.” 
Cytology* is the science which treats of cells, but not the 
kind of cells which would be adorned by the grafters, 
rebaters and general gobblers-up of the property and rights 
of others. 
The California Fruit Grower says that English “plum 
puddings" made of California prunes apparently throw doubt 
on the Biblical reflection that, “by their fruit you shall 
know them.” i 
Would you pay a little more for oil or other necessities 
in order to help an independent company put a trust out 
of business? In the face of competition the trust will first 
try to undersell its competitors. 
Let the dairy experts remember that thousands of dairy¬ 
men do not know how to use a Babcock milk tester. It 
would be an execellent thing to have a tester at farmer’s 
institutes and ask farmers to bring samples of milk. 
A new metal, said to possess all the virtues of nickel 
is now produced In Canada : it is called monel, and is said 
to cost less than nickel, while entirely fitted to take its 
place. It is an alloy of copper, nickel, iron and some other 
minerals. 
One of the first things that will strike a stranger in 
Cortland, N. \ r ., is the great number of black horses. We 
counted over 40 In a short time. Few horses seem to be 
bred and raised there, but the blacks are very popular. Why 
—we could not learn. 
An organization of the Episcopal Church has been incor¬ 
porated under the name of Hope Farm, and has purchased 
a farm in Dutchess County, N. Y., which will be used as 
a home for dependent children. This will relieve, in some 
degree, the Catholic Protectory, which is always crowded 
with children from this city. 
According to the customs returns on dutiable goods, the 
fruits of American prosperity do not all circulate here. 
During the past year nearly $50,000,000 went out of the 
country to buy dlamouds and automobiles; $40,000,000 
were spent in laces, ribbons and embroideries: $7,000,000 
for feathers, and including perfumeries, toilet articles, 
tobacco and opium for smoking, and champagne we reach 
$125,000,000 sent abroad for luxuries in one year. 
