1906. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
96S 
A LETTER TO THE JERSEY CATTLE CLUB. 
Last week, on page 949, we printed a letter from J. J. 
Hemingway, secretary of the A. J. C. C. The following 
reply has now been made to him: 
Mr. J. J. Hemingway, Sec. American Jersey Cattle 
Club, New York City. 
My Dear Sir:—Absence in the West prevented an 
earlier reply to your letter of December 7. This letter 
was, however, printed with comments on page 949 of 
The R. N.-Y. Can it be possible that you and this 
committee realize the position in which you have now 
placed your club? A question regarding the accuracy 
of your records arose between two men. The buyer 
knew nothing about Jersey cattle. A man of limited 
means, he was like hundreds of other farmers who 
wish to start breeding wjth small capital, and yet to 
start as near right as possible. This man had no experi¬ 
ence as a breeder, and no influence to help him. He knew 
nothing of the tricks of the trade. lie therefore took the 
word of the breeder in everything, supposing, of course, 
that he would receive a “square deal.” On the other 
hand, the breeder who sold the cattle is a man of large 
means and broad business experience. He has great 
influence as a breeder and politician, and a thorough 
knowledge of Jerseys and their breeding. From a 
breeder’s standpoint, the contrast between these two 
parties was very great: one weak and the other strong. 
On the question between them regarding registry papers, 
the weak man came to your club for help. He claimed 
to have good evidence to show that he did not get the 
cattle which were named in the registry papers. His 
complaint was of public importance, because it reaches 
the vital point in the whole business of registering 
Jersey cattle. 
It is also claimed that the breeder stated, when asked 
to settle the matter, that he had no fear of an investiga¬ 
tion by your club, since he knew who would be ap¬ 
pointed to investigate. This statement is corroborated, 
yet your committee ignore this implied insult. Do they 
lack the courage and the manhood to resent such a 
statement, or are they unable to realize what their 
silence implies and what it means to Jersey breeders? 
Your club represents the court of last appeal in regis¬ 
tering Jersey cattle. It would seem as if your first duty 
should be that of protecting just such a man as this 
buyer. Jersey breeders, as they all well know, cannot 
live on the business of selling cattle from one to an¬ 
other. The future extension of their business must 
largely consist of starting just such men as this buyer, 
or in selling animals to improve dairy herds. Cannot 
your committee see how such action as you have taken 
will paralyze this trade? Once let the public understand 
that you protect the powerful breeder and that the poor 
man, without influence, has no chance to right his 
wrongs, and the weakness of such a system is evident 
to all. 
Instead of helping this buyer, as you might have 
done, and settling the controversy over his cattle, the 
records indicate that you put him off with promises and 
pretext. You know that he claimed to have evidence 
from competent witnesses to prove that some of these 
cattle were of such an age that they could not possibly 
be the ones named in the registry papers. You knew 
also that if such things were permitted in Jersey breed¬ 
ing the least taint of suspicion would discredit, if not 
ruin, a man’s herd. You put this buyer off until you 
were obliged to act, and then you gave him to under- 
,stand that a simple affidavit would be enough for your 
•purpose. The evidence of this is clear to anyone who 
■will read your letters, which we have printed. The 
flniyer submits an affidavit, which you tell him is proper, 
giving him to understand that it is all that is required. 
He has a mass of testimony corroborating his sworn 
statement all ready to offer, but he supposed, from your 
letters, that this would be required only when the club 
started to investigate. Now, that is the way you appear 
to have treated the poor man, the beginner in the busi¬ 
ness, who is without influence and who needs your help 
more than any other class of breeders. At the same 
time that you do this, you seem to permit, if you do not 
encourage, the strong and influential breeder, who is 
a member of your club, to submit all the evidence he 
has. Then, having lulled the suspicion of the buyer 
in this way, your committee compares the simple affi¬ 
davit on one side with the mass of testimony on the 
other and actually undertakes to say that they “do 
not feel justified in taking any action.” You promised 
to investigate, yet you hear one side of the question - 
.and then attempt to freeze out the other. You will 
ifind, however, that Jersey breeders will not endorse such 
■methods. The inference is that if some strong man had 
jmade complaint about a weaker one you would have 
■acted at once, instead of dallying on, as you have done 
■jin this .case, for nearly a year. 
Now, cannot your committee see just what unpreju¬ 
diced breeders and farmers will think of such action? 
Don’t they realize that the inference must be that this 
executive Gommittee is ready to aid the battle of the 
strong and to ignore the weaker ones who are without 
influence? Is it possible that your committee cannot 
see what effect this is sure to have upon the business 
of breeding Jersey cattle, unless the matter is cleared 
promptly and effectively? If they cannot see this, I can 
assure them that there are plenty of Jersey cattle breed¬ 
ers who do see and understand these things, and they 
may also rest assured that these men will have abundant 
opportunity to discuss this vital principle, which your 
committee has now turned into a contest between cattle 
breeders and the Cattle Club. 
Yours very truly, 
h. w. coi.r.tNGWOon, Editor. 
N. Y. DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 
Part I. 
The thirtieth annual convention of the New York Dairy¬ 
men’s Association, which was held December 11-14 at Elmira, 
was one of notable interest. The meeting began Tuesday 
evening, and addresses of welcome and response were given. 
I.ike too many such meetings, these addresses as a whole, 
while interesting and instructive in themselves, were rather 
long-drawn-out. and somewhat tiresome. The address of 
welcome by Mayor Brockway. recited in a somewhat humor¬ 
ous fashion the praises of Elmira and closed with a plea 
for purer milk, free from taint of disease. The address by 
Assemblyman Morland was scholarly, reciting events of com¬ 
mercial history and urging that all great reforms of govern¬ 
ment have come from the common people. lie says that we 
have not yet learned even the first lessons of self-government, 
and urges farmers to stand for good government. Charles 
B. Tuck, of Cornell University, gave an address in response, 
in which he pleaded for a better chance for young men in 
agricultural pursuits. There must be some incentive for 
tlie young man to engage in agriculture besides the mere 
sentiment of natural beauties and high pique of living. 
There must be a “bread-and-butter” side to consider. Presi¬ 
dent M. T. Morgan read an address which was partly given 
up to defense of the agricultural department in connection 
with the Dairymen's Association. lie said that, without the 
support of the' department, the association would have failed, 
as no person could be found to give liis time to its necessary 
work without pay. There is no money given to the support 
of the Dairymen's Association except what comes from the 
dairy supply houses, yet. the New York Association stands 
as a leader among associations in the sort of work which 
engages its attention. Prof. \V. A. Stocking, Jr., of Cornell, 
read a paper on “Milk as a Pood," in which he spoke of 
the usual causes of contamination and how to avoid them, 
lie prepared his paper with a view to addressing a room full 
of Elmirians who are consumers, but he was disappointed, 
as Elmira consumers of milk were not. in attendance. The 
professor spoke of four classes of bacteria, remarking that 
by far the larger class consisted of those that did not , 
affect milk at all and were not to be noticed, except in that 
their presence indicates a lack of care and a possible con¬ 
tamination by other varieties. Another class, the acid form¬ 
ers, are to be considered beneficial, unless in too large 
numbers. The disease-producing bacteria, such as those of 
tuberculosis, typhoid, etc., are to be eliminated completely, 
and are, under proper conditions. One other class, those 
producing decomposition, has to be reckoned with. The 
method of holding these in check is to make all surroundings 
cleanly. Dust in the stable, even from feeding hay or grain 
at milking time mav introduce germs into the milk. It is 
always best, after cleaning the cow, to wipe the udder and 
flanks with a damp cloth, to collect and hold the germ-laden 
dust. Cleanliness in utensils and surroundings is the key to 
tiie production of milk of good quality. Not. only healthful¬ 
ness and keeping quality are improved, but the palatahility 
of milk is much greater where strict precautionary measures 
are taken, as described. Improved flavor means more milk 
consumed and better food value. Such milk costs more to 
make and is worth more. H. H. L. 
EVENTS OF THE WEEK. 
DOMESTIC.—That an epidemic of rabies, which has pre¬ 
vailed in the vicinity of Providence, It. I., during the past 
few months, is not dying out. seems to be shown by the 
fact that complaints of dog bites are being made daily in 
Providence and that applications for Pasteur treatment at 
the Rhode Island Hospital are increasing. An examination 
of recent, records at the oflice of the superintendent of health 
sIioavs that there have been three deaths from hydrophobia 
contracted through bites from infected animals: 51 persons 
have been under treatment, and there have been 169 cases 
of people bitten. Thirty-seven of the rabies patients tvere 
sent to the Pasteur Institute in New York city. . . . . 
. . . December 16 a serious coal famine existed all 
over North Dakota, and great suffering resulted. One of 
the most serious features is the probability of a snow 
blockade. There is now more snow on the ground than at 
any time since 1S96. Thus far the State has escaped high 
winds and bad drifts, but a storm such as is liable to come 
at. any time in the Winter would pile up great drifts and 
tie up the roads absolutely for many days and cripple them 
for the entire Winter, in the face of these serious com 
ditions the people are giving no attention to the lack of 
cars for Avheat. shipments and the great piles of wheat 
that lie loose on the ground burled under the snow. Indi¬ 
viduals, commercial and clA’ic bodies and newspapers demand 
that fuel have the right of way over everything. There are 
in North Dakota some 2,000 miles of branch railway lines 
over which not more than one passenger and one freight 
train run each day, and these lines it is nlmost impossible 
to keep open. It is along these branches that there ts 
now the greatest suffering. . . . Evidences tending to 
show that a coal combination exists in the Northwest and 
of favoritism in the distribution of cars was presented to 
the Inter-state Commerce Commission at St. Paul, Minn., 
December IS. Telegrams wore received from 1b North 
Dakota towns suffering from lack of coal and oil appealing 
for relief. Witnesses testified that wheat values are lowered 
for the producer and increased for the consumer by the 
car shortage and that favoritism in the distribution of cars 
threatens the destruction of independent grain buyers. The 
commission examined nine witnesses. S. Blair, secretary of 
the Minnesota Partners’ Exchange, said that cars might be 
had if a bonus were paid. It was shown that millions of 
bushels of grain are still in the farmers’ hands, with the 
result that although the farmer had wealth in his granary, 
or heaped on the ground, lie was obliged to borrow money 
because he could not. get it to market. The First National 
Bank of Fargo has loaned $600,000 to country banks that 
usually have large balances at this season, and jobbers have 
been heavy borrowers because collections were delayed by 
tiie same cause. Photographs were presented of grain piled 
on the ground, and individual farmers testified that, whereas 
in former years they had got thirty or forty cars this year 
thev had been able to get but one or two. Witnesses esti¬ 
mate that about 40 per cent of tin* 1006 crop is in tiie 
farmers’ hands and about 25 per cent in country elevators. 
The effect of this is to lower the price at the point of pro¬ 
duction, as grain men demanded a margin of six or seven 
cents instead of two cents, owing to the delays* of getting 
grain to market. North Dakota independent grain buyers 
to the number of 200 were in session at Valley City De¬ 
cember IS. The railroads, they declare, have entered into 
a conspiracy to drive out the independent, grain dealers and 
to defeat the delivery of coal in the Northwest as punish¬ 
ment for the movement inaugurated for a reduction of rates. 
The independent elevator men declare that the railroads 
send them cars of 22.000 pounds capacity while they send 
the line elevators cars of 60.000 pounds capacity and that 
the line elevators are able to ship live cars to the inde¬ 
pendents’ one car. The farmers’ elevators, they declare, 
pav more for storage, higher rates for freight and rece've 
less for their grain than the line elevators. The shortage 
of fuel is regarded as a conspiracy to drive the people into 
supporting legislation pending, but it is having the opposite 
effect The people are aroused, and the most stringent 
railroad legislation ever enacted will be placed on the 
statute books of that State this Winter. . . The United 
States Grand Jury at Toledo. O,, December 18, returned 155 
indictments against the Ann Arbor Railroad for giving 
rebates, and a like number against tiie Toledo Ice and Coal 
Company for receiving the rebates. The Grand Jury found 
that the Toledo Ice and Coal Company was composed of 
Ann Arbor officials. The extent to which competitors of the 
ice company were discriminated against by the railroad was 
shown by freight bills unearthed by United States officials. 
From Whitmore Lake to Toledo a rate of 30 cents a ton, 
on ice was made to the Toledo Ice and Coal Company. 
George Schuller, a Toledo ice dealer, paid 50 cents a ton, 
a difference of $4 a car. It is alleged that upon tiie arrival 
of tiie ice the Dills of competitors were corrected to scale 
weights, while those of the Toledo company were based on 
minimum car loads, thus gaining a further difference of 
from $2 to $3 a carload. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—The Pennsylvania State Grange, 
Patrons of Husbandry, in annual session at Dubois, Pa., 
declared with emphasis that tiie Legislature and next Gover¬ 
nor must fulfill all of the pledges made for reform and all 
promises affecting farmers and general business interests. 
Resolutions presented favor trolley freight franchises; the 
extension of the educational advantages and the placing of 
the financial burden of the public schools upon the State; 
placing express companies under tiie control of the Inter¬ 
state Commerce Commission; equalization of taxation; the 
reopening of the canals of the State; the abolition of the fee 
system in tiie payment of county officials; governmental con¬ 
trol of tiie telephone system; control of freight rates by • he 
State: more money for the construction of roads; two-cent 
fares and tiie control of freight rates by the State, and the 
adoption of the parcels post. Much opposition was shown 
to the compulsory vaccination law; a protest was made 
against the proposed Increase of newspaper postage, while 
the present method of distributing seeds by the Agricultural 
Department came in for ridicule. A demand for a thorough 
investigation of the scandal connected with the construction 
of tiie State Capitol was made amid applause. Secretary 
Crltchfleld, of the Agricultural Department, made an address, 
and at Its conclusion tiie State Grange adoped a resolution 
asking for his reappointment and also the retention of Pro¬ 
fessor Surface, the State Zoologist, and Dr. D. II. Warren, 
State Dairy and Food Commissioner. 
The Cornell University Poultry Association will hold their 
fourth annual poultry show February 13, 14, 15, 1907. 
T. F. McGew, judge. The primary object of this show is 
educational. Besides the large exhibit, of poultry and pet 
stock, there will also be on exhibition charts illustrating the 
results of the latest experiments in poultry husbandry, a 
complete line of poultry books and publications, and numer¬ 
ous modern poultry appliances. 
VERMONT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The annual meeting of the Vermont State Horticultural 
Society at Burlington. December 4 and 5, was well attended, 
and much interest and enthusiasm was manifest In the 
various subjects under discussion. The Vermont apple 
growers were well represented and had a very creditable 
display of fruit. There was also a good showing of potatoes. 
Luther Putnam of Cambridge displayed 69 varieties, the State 
Experiment Station showing nearly as many. II. M. Tet- 
man of Randolph had a beautiful collection of carnations 
and gave a very Interesting and instructive talk upon their 
culture. The speakers from outside the State were Prof A. 
G. Gully, from the Connecticut Agricultural College, who 
spoke on “Recent Pointers for the Apple Grower”: ,T. H, 
Dale, of South Glastonbury, Conn., on “The Business End of 
Fruit Growing,” and also “Fruits for tiie Local Market”: 
R. Brodlo, of Outremont, Que„ on “Selection and Care of 
Apple Trees for the North.” Ex-Mayor W. IT. Blodgett, of 
Worcester, Mass., gave a practical demonstration of the 
grading and packing of apples. The society is making a 
steady growth. The secretary reports a gain In membership 
the past year of 40 per cent. There is evident a growing 
interest. In the production of fruit, vegetables and flowers 
throughout tiie State, which the society will put forth its 
best endeavors to encourage. The officers for the ensuing 
year are T. L. Kinney, president; William Stuart, secre¬ 
tary ; A. M. Vaughn, treasurer; L. II. Sheldon, auditor. 
_ W. h. r. ‘ 
N. Y. Poultry Show Coaiing. —The eighteenth annual 
exhibition will be held p‘ Madison Square Garden. January 
1-5, and It is expected to be bigger and better than ever. 
Every breed of fancy, as well as strictly commercial, poultry 
will be there, besides Inrge exhibits of pigeons, pet stock, 
cage birds and cats. This gives an excellent opportunity for 
farmers whose flocks are unsatisfactory to look over other 
breeds and arrange for new stock, and there should be a 
large attendance from the country districts reasonably near 
New York. The show is open each day from 9.30 A. M. 
until 10.30 P. M., and the price of admission, half a dollar, 
covers all. _ 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Wh are often asked by people who live in level regions 
how they can-arrange for a water supply. Of course, the 
Avater can be pumped into a high tank, so as to give pressure 
in the house or barn, but there are several objections to 
this. The latest plan is to put a steel tank under ground, 
partly 1111 it with water, and then force air in so as to give a 
pressure strong enough to force the water wherever it 
is wanted. This system is giving great satisfaction in many 
places, and may solve the water problem for hundreds of 
our readers. By all means write to the Ivewanee Water 
Supply Co., Drawer W. W., Ivewanee, Ill., for full partic¬ 
ulars. 
Sowing of tbe lighter varieties of seeds, easily blown by 
the wind, has, by the use of the wheelbarrow grass seeder 
made by O. E- Thompson & Sons, Ypsilanti, Midi., become 
nearly 411 exact science. Tbe implement is in the form of a 
wheelbarrow, with a long, box-like attachment carried near 
the ground and regulating tiie fall of the seed with precision 
and regularity, The machine is very simple, easily kept in 
order, without cog and gears to get out of adjustment, and 
is easily pushed over heavy and uneven ground. Every 
farmer should write to the manufacturers of this ingenious 
and most valuable implement for their complete .catalogue. 
Reports from the district visited by the recent Gulf 
storm show that Carey’s Rooting stood the test remarkably 
well. The following report will illustrate the staying quali¬ 
ties of this roofing: At Pensacola, Fla., a small building, 
occupied and owned by the Warren Fish Company and that 
was built out over the hay. was covered with Carey’s roofing, 
and although ot'ery building within two blocks of this one 
was unroofed, not even a corner of this rooting was blorvn 
off. This roofing has earned an enviable reputation and is 
considered fireproof. The manufacturers are the Philip 
Carey Mfg. Co., 42 Wayne Ave., Cincinnati. Ohio, which 
company will be glud to give our readers full information 
regarding it. 
Ip it happens to he evening ns you are reading this, stop 
to see if the circle of light In whien one should rend Is large 
enough? Maybe you are next to the lamp, or whatever sort 
of light a*ou are using. But how about all the others? 
Kerosene is knewn to produce a light which is very restful 
to the eyes, and we have before 11 s an Interesting booklet 
which tells how to get plenty of it at a minimum of cost 
and trouble. It would be well for many of our readers to 
get this* book and learn how to increase the reading circle— 
how to send a soft, even light all over the room from one 
lamp. This booklet may be had free, because it advertises 
the Angle Lamp. Write The Angle Mfg. Co., 78-80 Murray 
St., New York City, and mention this paper. 
IToav different parents view the question of entrusting 
children with certain responsibilities is avcII illustrated by 
the following: One man had been telling another of his 
shooting trip, which lie had found doubly delightful because 
ho had taken his small boy along. “A' boy of twelve? i 
should be afraid,” said tbe other, “to give my boy tiie respon¬ 
sibility of a gun.” “Well,” said the first, “I should be afraid 
to deprive my boy of his share of responsibility. Nothing 
develops a boy like responsibility.” This mail’s view is 
exactly in line with the propaganda being carried forward 
by the ,T. Stevens Arms & Tool Company, Chicopee Falls, 
Mass. They argue very reasonably that by putting a rifle 
or gun in the hands of a hoy you Increase his self-respect, 
and make him self-reliant and manly. The Stevens Com¬ 
pany have issued a catalogue on rifles, shotguns and pistols 
whieh every father should see. The company’s only request 
is that four cents In stamps be sent to cover postage; the 
book itself is free. 
