THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 5, 
O 
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. Wai.ter Van - Fleet,) 
Mrs. e. t. Hoyle, f 
Associates. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal I’oslal Union, $2.04, 
equal to 8s. 0d., or sy 2 marks, or 10‘/ 2 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 u's 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 l'earl Street, New York. 
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 1907. 
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. , 
* 
We have received many questions about coloring but¬ 
ter—like the one printed on the next page. As Dr. 
Wiley is the highest authority on the subject we have 
obtained a statement from him. The pure food law 
controls only interstate commerce—that is, goods 
shipped from one State to another. It could not inter¬ 
fere with a local market. We would, however, advise 
our readers to use the colbrs suggested by the Depart¬ 
ment even if their butter is not shipped. Sooner or 
later customers will learn that certain colors are de¬ 
clared dangerous, and will find fault with their use. 
* 
We never did believe in trying to do too much for 
people. More good boys have been ruined by over- 
indulgence than by overwork. All men deserve is fair 
opportunity. That is why, when we find some wrong 
which we believe the people can right, we try to give 
them a chance to do it. We see men and papers who 
claim to do great things. They know better, for the 
people did the things when opportunity was offered 
them. Just now Jersey farmers have the chance to de¬ 
feat Senator Dryden and show their power. We can 
only point out the opportunity. The farmers will do 
the work. . 
* 
One of the most interesting reports about spraying 
to destroy the San Jose scale is a recent one by Prof. 
M. V. Slingerland. In the orchard of Albert Wood, 
a well-known fruit grower, a number of pear and 
peach trees were found badly infested with scale. Mr. 
Wood was disposed to cut the trees down and burn 
them at once, but finally decided to try an experiment. 
A soluble oil was used, twice in the Fall and once 
again the following Spring. The work was thoroughly 
done, and careful watch was made for scales. As a 
result it is reported that Mr. Wood makes an offer 
to pay one dollar for every living scale found on the 
sprayed trees. Not one has been found this year. 
This seems almost incredible, but Mr. Wood is a re¬ 
liable man, and Prof. Slingerland is known as one of 
our most conservative entomologists. There has been 
considerable prejudice against the use of oils for 
spraying. Lime and sulphur has been considered the 
most reliable scale killer, and the scientific men were 
fully justified in urging people to go slow in trying the 
oils. That is always sound advice, for if a new candi¬ 
date for business cannot force itself to the front on the 
strength of its .actual work it will not amount to much. 
It must be said that results from the oils when prop¬ 
erly applied are very encouraging indeed. They are 
better for Fall and Winter spraying. 
* 
Years ago, when the fertilizer business was new, 
frauds reaped a great harvest in the sale of bogus 
goods. Various “recipes” were offered and many a 
farmer paid $5 for some ridiculous plan for mixing a 
handful of chemicals with dirt. The work of the ex¬ 
periment stations has driven most of such rogues out 
of business, but in States where the business is newer 
they are still at it. The Texas Station states that the 
following formula is being sold in that State: “Two 
pounds bluestone; two pounds saltpeter; two pounds 
nitrate of ammonia; two pounds soda ash; four pounds 
potash ball, dissolved in five gallons of water and 
sprinkled on sand, makes a ton, sufficient for one acre.” 
If that mixture would really fertilize an acre the plant 
food problem would be settled, but it will not. The 
chemist of the station thus puts it out of business: 
None of the substances mentioned Is used in making 
fertilizers. Bluestone and soda ash have no value as 
fertilizers. Saltpeter, ammonium nitrate and potash contain 
potash and nitrogen, but they are too expensive to use as 
fertilizers. Besides, the potash would act on the ammonium 
nitrate and drive off the ammonia. The above ingredients 
would contain about three pounds potash and one pound 
nitrogen, with a fertilizing value of 31 cents. In other 
words, the purchaser of this recipe pays his money to learn 
how to get 31 cents worth of fertility for $1.50 or $2. 
Applied to an acre of land, the mixture would have practic¬ 
ally no effect on the crop and would merely lead to dis¬ 
appointment. Three dead cats and a bucket of wood ashes 
would be of greater benefit. 
We would rather have the three dead cats and the 
ashes. In spite of this warning some farmers will be 
sure to pay money for this so-called “recipe.” The 
experiment stations are only too glad to give advice 
about such frauds if the farmers will only let them 
do it. How can a farmer stand in their way? By not 
asking their advice when in doubt. 
* 
STILL ANOTHER RESOLUTION. 
The following resolution was adopted by the New York 
State Breeders’ Association :■ 
Whereas, a certain agricultural journal has insinuated 
that the A. J. C. C. has encouraged lax methods in their 
consideration and action on certain charges in reference to 
recent alleged fraudulent registration of cattle on the books 
of the Club; and, whereas, the New York State Breeders’ 
Association insists that all record associations shall maintain 
the integrity of their record to the utmost limit, and where¬ 
as the committee on resolutions of this association has exam¬ 
ined copies of all the affidavits furnished to the A. J. C. C. 
and their finding in this matter, and find that on the facts 
the Club could not, in any way, take different action than 
it did. As clearly no case is proven, therefore be it 
Resolved, That this association in annual session in the 
city of Syracuse, December 18-19, 1906, expresses their dis¬ 
approval of such criticism, and their regret that the high 
character of agricultural journalism should suffer on account 
of baseless criticism directed against organizations seeking 
to maintain the high character of our farm animals and 
thus promote the public good, and we feel that the great 
body of breeders in America all suffer because of their 
baseless attack on our recorded integrity. 
We do not believe this resolution expresses the feeling 
of the Association. It is more likely to be the work of 
a small band of well-trained politicians whose influence 
is felt by most of the farm organizations in the State. 
There are strong and honorable men in the Breeders’ 
Association. Some of them have already told us that 
The R. N.-Y. had done just what it should have done 
in this case.The very man who brought the resolution 
to us admitted that the Jersey Cattle Club “made a mis¬ 
take.” If anv reputable breeder will tell us over his own 
signature wherein our course has been unfair or un¬ 
justified we will thank him for doing so. It will be 
noticed that in all this “resolving” and beating about 
the bush, no one attempts to dispute the .accuracy of our 
statement of the facts. Our criticism of the 
A. J. C. C. is that they permitted the breeder to 
submit what they' call “a strong statement” and then 
gave the buyer to understand that his simple affidavit 
was all they wanted! This committee seems to have 
made a worse blunder than the club did. They had a 
chance to summon the buyer and hear his evidence. 
That would have placed them in a strong position and 
shown that the Association really desires to help the 
breeding industry. In fact no other course would seem 
to be open to the Association. The buyer claims that 
a seven-year-old cow is registered as a three-year-old. 
His barn is within a few hours’ ride of Syracuse. If 
he is a fraud, and a blackmailer it is more the business 
of the Association to expose a dangerous trick in cat¬ 
tle breeding than it is to protect the breeder! When 
it is understood that officers of this Association who 
may be particularly interested in this case are also 
members of the A. J. C. C., the rank and file of the 
Association will see what a narrow position they have 
been placed in. This committee had the chance of a 
lifetime to go to the very core of this matter and settle 
it—in that way giving the Association a tremendous 
power for good. Instead of doing so they seem to 
have done just what the A. J. C. C. did. Thus this 
committee undertakes to put the Association on record 
as willing to blast a man’s reputation without hearing 
his evidence! There is no getting around that, for the 
way the case stands this buyer, who brings the charge 
is either an injured man or too great a rogue to breed 
and sell registered cattle. Prove him so and the public 
will be warned against him—but give him a chance to 
prove his case first! The members of the Association 
who are not in the game can now easily see where this 
committee has placed them. Of course they will want 
to know why the committee touched the subject at all 
if they were not prepared to hear all sides and settle 
it! We offer these gentlemen a chance to explain! 
Let it be remembered that the Agricultural Depart¬ 
ment at Washington will test seeds for farmers or 
seedsmen. Send a sample as you buy, or as you think 
of buying, and the Department will tell you what weed 
seeds or other adulterants are present, the per cent of 
pure seed in the sample, and the per cent that will 
germinate in a fair test. Last year the Department 
secured samples of grass and clover seeds as sold by 
leading seedsmen, examined them and published the 
results. Some of the samples were very bad, and every¬ 
thing indicates a general cleaning up this year and a 
higher quality of seed. At least a farmer will have a 
chance to buy better grass seed if he will pay the price. 
It seems to be clear that farms and entire sections have 
been seeded to dangerous weeds which were imported 
in grass seeds. Where a farmer is using much seed it 
will certainly pay him to buy by sample. Get a fair 
sample of the seed and send it to the Seed Laboratory, 
Agricultural Department, Washington, D. C., and ask 
for a test. You will then know just what j r ou are 
buying. 
* 
There are times in every man’s life when soft words 
are best. They turn away wrath and melt out what 
might grow into bitter memories. There are other 
times, however, when the soft word will never settle 
a hard problem. The song of doves will never defeat 
Senator Dryden of New Jersey. There must be a 
sound closer to that made by a clap of thunder. We 
print this extract from a well-known New York farm¬ 
er’s letter: 
It does me good to see tlie very gentlemanly way that 
you are dealing sledge hammer blows to John F. Dryden’s 
candidacy in New Jersey. I verily believe you are going 
to down him. Of course, we in New York can't do much, 
but we can pray and hope and have faith. Even those who 
are so bound up in the toils of party organization will 
feel happy when you win out. A short time ago a life¬ 
long Republican came to me and said : “I am awfully glad 
you downed Jim Wadsworth.” I said then, “Why didn't 
you help do it?” lie replied, “Oh, he got a good place for 
my son, and I could not go back on him, though I knew 
that he did not represent me at all.” I said, “God pity 
your poor soul; you have not manhood enough to do what 
you think best for your country, because your son has a 
position which is an absolute curse to him.” There is 
great hope for the future of our country in the fact tha f 
farmers are coming to think for themselves, and to act out 
their convictions of right.” 
The New Jersey Legislature will soon meet, and time 
is short. The politicians are weighing the dollar against 
the man. Will the loss of Senator Dryden’s money 
hurt them more than the loss of the farmer’s vote? We 
do not like to put the thing in this cold-blooded fash¬ 
ion, but the men who undertake to “run things” in New 
Jersey have, just about as much sentiment as an oyster. 
Jersey farmers must meet them on their own ground, 
and demonstrate that the man is heavier than the 
dollar—or take a back seat for good and admit that 
the dollar is more important. That is a blunt way of 
stating an unpleasant truth. The politicians could not 
have selected a man more openly opposed to the things 
which farmers should stand for than Mr. Dryden. 
To send him back now will indicate that the oleo 
makers are more important than the farmers, and 
that the country people are losing the old time cour¬ 
age and independence for which Jerseymen were once 
famous. It is possible for the - farmers to defeat Mr. 
Dryden. As we have pointed out, he can only be 
elected by the representatives from counties where 
farmers are strong. The situation is right in their 
hands. They should rise up at once and tell their 
members of the Legislature that they will chase them 
into their political graves if they vote to send Dryden 
back. That is the way to talk to them, and we rejoice 
to learn that already several members of the Legis¬ 
lature have been so plastered with postage stamps that 
they know it will kill them to put on the Dryden coat. 
Keep at them, Jerseymen! Your chance has come! 
BREVITIES . 
Fight the scale or cut your trees down! 
How many apples have you eaten to-day? 
What is the best part of Virginia for poultry keeping— 
markets considered ? 
It is possible to force rhubarb In a dark cellar, but has 
anyone found a ready market for it in a town of fair size? 
You may find fault with a commission man, but you 
wouldn’t like to put in the number of nours he does at 
this season. 
Every year we like to print one or more pictures of a 
good fireplace. The one pictured at Fig. 2, page 2, cheers 
a home at Scranton, Pa. The motto over it is “Honor is 
better than riches.” 
We are not the only people who suffer from a deficiency 
of farm labor. It is announced that the West Prussian 
Agricultural Association has determined, in default of other 
labor, to import Chinese coolies, and is arranging the pre¬ 
liminaries with the German government. 
Here is one from a Massachusetts man: “I was pleased 
to learn that ‘Our’ Mr. Mapes is a ‘grandad.’ I must plead 
guilty to the same. Our little granddaughter is not old 
enough to care for a flock of 500, but this Summer when 
she was here, she wanted to help me feed the chickens. 
Bless her little heart! No, I don’t think now, that that 
13-year-old school girl will be overworked, but that there 
is more danger of her being spoiled? Don’t you?” 
i 
