7o 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
January 26, 
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. Collinowood, Editor. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet, ( As „ nf .| RtP8 
MRS. E. T. Hoyle, (Associates. 
John J. Dillon, Business Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAS. 
To foreign countries in the Universal 1’ostal Union, f2.04, 
eyual to 8s. 6d., or HV* marks, or 10‘/a 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 trilling 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, JANUARY 26, 1907. 
TEN WEEKS FOR 10 CENTS. 
In order to introduce The R. N.-Y. t’o 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. 
* 
Among other comments called out by this Jersey 
cattle case is the following: 
“Keep up the hammering and the ‘cow’ will win!” 
It is said to be hard to get blood from a turnip, but 
the author of that saying never tried to get something 
more than a resolution out of the A. J. C. C. That 
executive committee evidently doesn’t want to give down, 
hut Jersey breeders are good milkers. 
* 
Attention is called to Mr. Cosgrove’s poultry report 
for 1906. We have had letters expressing astonishment 
that a poultry man should actually tell the truth when 
his hens are not making a great record. Now the hen 
is one of the most honest creatures in the barnyard. 
Why should man feel that he must put rubber into the 
truth whenever he acts as spokesman for her? We 
remind our readers that Mr. Cosgrove went to a run¬ 
down hill farm when nearly 60—after years of work in 
town. The hens have paid for the farm, doubled its 
value, provided a good living—and sent a good man to 
the Legislature. This poultry record tells a story which 
The R. N.-Y. is never tired of repeating. 
* 
We learn that a number of prominent fruit growers 
in western New York expect to give basic slag or iron 
phosphate a thorough trial. Some of the apples from 
that section have been too light in color, and it is hoped 
that the iron in this phosphate will paint the fruit a 
darker hue. One great advantage we have found in this 
phosphate is the large amount of lime it contains. We 
believe that many orchard soils are badly in need of 
lime. A continued protest should be made against the 
tariff on basic slag. There is no reason for it—as every 
other form of fertilizing material is imported free. Now 
that this excellent form of phosphoric acid is becoming 
popular farmers should insist upon the removal of that 
tariff. 
* 
As we go to press the indications are that Senator 
Dryden will not be elected by the New Jersey Legisla¬ 
ture. We know that Jersey politics are uncertain. A 
combination favorable to the oleo man might be made, 
but it does not seem probable now. This is remarkable 
when we remember that two months ago there was no 
organized opposition to Mr. Dryden in sight. Most of 
the Republican members of the Legislature appeared to 
have given some sort of pledge to support Dryden. 
While the great majority of people in the State were 
opposed to him, there seemed to be no organized oppo¬ 
sition. This has been supplied by the farmers. They 
rallied at the first suggestion, and proceeded to make 
life a burden for their representatives. The Jersey leg¬ 
islator, like most other people, does his best work as a 
burden bearer, and the farmers saw to it that the Tren¬ 
ton statesman understood the situation. If Mr. Dry¬ 
den is defeated it will be through the influence of 
farmers. If, in spite of all, he is returned, his party 
may bid a long farewell to the control of the State, and 
those who vote for him may as well join the ancient 
society of leftovers. Men who run against an angry cow 
will regret their action in retirement. 
Gov. Hughes of New York is to have his troubles, 
but he is taking the right way to meet them. Politi¬ 
cians, large and small, have been taking their share 
and more of “graft.” The Governor seems to realize 
that he was elected by people who expect him to cut 
that “graft” out or at least as much as he caji. He has 
begun the work, and as long as he keeps at it he must 
expect opposition from the “grafters.” They seem to be 
strong, and so they are, yet they in turn are subject to 
masters. These masters are the people who do the vot¬ 
ing. Gov. Hughes announces that if reform measures 
are held up he will appeal direct to the people. He is 
wise. Little use for a man in his position to deal or 
dicker with the politicians who want to keep motives 
and aims hidden. Let him go right over their heads to 
the common people, and appeal to the real masters. 
* 
One of the old rules of farm chemistry was—never 
use lime in connection with acid phosphate. The argu¬ 
ment was that the lime would cause the phosphate to 
“revert”—that is unite with the lime so as to be no 
longer soluble in water. Now comes Prof. Wheeler of 
Rhode Island, who has probably made more of a study 
of lime that any other man in the country, upsetting this 
theory. He shows that lime, used with soluble phos¬ 
phates, has given good results. It is .true that these 
phosphates “reverted,” but in many soils if they had not 
united with the lime they would have done so with iron 
or aluminum and in that case made an insoluble combi¬ 
nation. That is why the use of acid phosphate on some 
soils—particularly sands—is often disappointing. The 
phosphate unites to make combinations which the plants 
cannot touch. The combinations with lime become 
available and so, on such soils at least, liming is a benefit. 
* 
We call attention to the article from The Jersey Bul¬ 
letin which is printed on the next page. This is a mas¬ 
terly statement of the case against the A. J. C. C. 
Jersey breeders now see that this is their fight, and they 
do well to take it up. The shuffling attitude of the 
A. J. C. C. has now placed them in a worse position than 
ever. On December 15 the buyer had two young ani¬ 
mals from the disputed cows to register. He sent the 
following to the secretary of the club : 
We enclose herewith application and fees for two animals. 
These names are according to the corroborated affidavit of 
the breeder, but we are positive they are not correct; 
however, I presume they will have to stand on the strength 
of the breeder’s statement. 
You will see the point without trouble. What can 
the Club do with these calves? No matter if they reg¬ 
ister the animals they know there will always be a cloud 
upon their title. If they refuse to register them they 
stamp their own “resolution” under foot, since, by refus¬ 
ing to investigate, they gave the inference that the 
cattle were right. It looks as if they were now cornered 
—in a position of their own choosing—where they can¬ 
not dodge or “resolve” away from responsibility. The 
reply from the secretary, which is dated January 7 has 
a familiar sound. He will “submit the entries to the 
Executive Committee” and “you will be notified of the 
result as soon as possible.” From our experience with 
that committee we have reason to believe that the matter 
will be taken up in future years—after the cattle are all 
dead. Jersey breeders may well build a hot fire under 
that executive committee if they are interested in this 
case. The secretary also states that he finds that one of 
the cows is still entered in his books in the breeder's 
name! The buyer has the cow, but the papers have 
never been transferred. We have an affidavit from a 
reliable man who swears that the breeder, while in the 
buyer’s barn, was asked to identify the cattle, tell their 
ages as registered .and straighten out the trouble. He 
refused to do so. This Executive Committee must have 
known about this failure to deliver the papers—and yet 
they would not investigate. What is the matter with 
that executive committee? Are they too dignified to 
execute their duty? 
* 
Referring to several fires in dwelling houses which 
involved loss of life, a correspondent of the New York 
Evening Post calls attention to the protection afforded 
by a thermostat. Fatalities usually occur in such cases 
where sleepers on an upper floor receive no warning of 
the fire until means of escape are cut off. The thermo¬ 
stat is yised to give an alarm, being placed near the fur¬ 
nace, in the kitchen, or in any other place where there 
is possibility of fire starting. The thermostat is con¬ 
nected with an electric gong in the front hall, and set 
at 180 degrees. Naturally a sudden or unusual rise in 
temperature sets the gong going, and thus gives warn¬ 
ing. It will be remembered that the thermostat is used 
in greenhouse establishments in connection with the ven¬ 
tilating apparatus to regulate the temperature, and it 
would seem entirely practical as a fire alarm; the cost of 
installation would be quite moderate. The newspapers 
have reported several recent tragedies resulting from fire 
where the thermostat warning would have given oppor¬ 
tunity of escape. The danger is greatest in the Winter 
when overheated stoves and insufficient water supply in¬ 
crease ordinary risks. 
We have been talking with people in different States 
who started out' to reform various things which they 
thought were wrong. In the course of their career they 
ran upon politicians, grafters or interested 'parties who 
objected. These “reformers” all tell pretty much the 
same story of what t'hey got. The first thing was to 
laugh them out of business. Most men are sensitive to 
ridicule. Under the sting of some insult they say some¬ 
thing which gives a smart opponent the chance to ‘“make 
a fool of them” in print. Those who are strong enough 
to rise above this, face powerful forces which try to 
frighten them. Some men do not know what physical 
fear is, but when brought face to face with the threat 
of loss of position or property they cannot stand the hot 
iron, for it means foo much to those who look to them 
for support. To those who resist there comes bribery. 
The hard politician who believes that “every man has 
his price” knows how to put his finger on the right 
motive for his purpose. Human nature is weak in spots 
and flattery eats in faster Ilian an acid. When all else 
fails the final effort is to blacken the man’s character. 
There are some interests so built upon selfishness and 
greed that if pressed too hard they would not hesitate 
t'o break up long friendships or destroy homes in order 
to protect themselves. The man who starts out to do 
things of real worth in this world will have no pleasant 
saunter through life. He will have a fight on hand at 
every step of the way, and he will be fortunate if he is 
not embittered by the struggle. To such a man a farm 
is like a place of refuge, where he may go and forget 
the weakness and sin of human life in the great patience 
and hope of Nature. 
There is something curiously familiar .about this story 
of an express company related by a correspondent of 
the New York Sun: 
A year ago a near relative in Minnesota sent me several 
turkeys at Christmas and in notifying me of the gift forgot 
to state the fact that she had prepaid $1.50 express charges. 
The goods were delivered only three days later and the 
driver asked and received $1.50 charges. Some time later I 
learned of the prepayment and demanded restitution. Four 
or five “tracers” called on me during the next three months 
and four or five times I called at the express office, being 
very little inclined to condone grafting, petty or otherwise. 
Finally, during the week before Easter, an adjuster called 
and offered me 95 cents to settle. I reminded him that mv 
claim was $1.50 and he explained that the agent in Minne¬ 
sota had not charged the proper amount, as the package 
weighed enough to warrant a charge of $2.05. I suppose I 
should have maintained my ground, hut the novelty of finding 
a great company so zealous for its interests and the petty 
me*anness of it all made me resolve to close so small a trans¬ 
action, and I accepted the money. 
It is a pity this good citizen became weary in well¬ 
doing; he should take to heart the Scriptural lesson 
of the importunate widow and the unjust judge. An 
express company’s hide, metaphorically speaking, is al¬ 
most as impenetrable as nickel steel armor plate, yet 
persistent prodding renders it sensitive, and there is a 
certain amount of righteous diversion to be obtained 
from the process; besides, you may make life easier for 
some one who cannot fight. In the meantime it is well 
to remember that nothing makes the express company so 
meek and lowly as the possibility of an efficient parcels 
post. If we can add to that a well-managed postal sav¬ 
ings bank we shall approach the facilities a number of 
other countries already afford. 
BREVITIES. 
The most remarkable Jersey cow 
That ever yet zvas born; 
With three years on her pedigree 
And seven years on her horn! 
Keep onions out of the butter bowl. 
Dead issues are good to fertilize live ones. 
Who knows best what birds should he protected—the 
farmer or the “sportsman”? 
Who is the best adviser on farm practice? A successful 
farmer right in your own neighborhood. That is—he can be 
if he wants to. 
There are 11,016 names of roses listed in the new edition 
of a French rose list; yet there is plenty of room for mer¬ 
itorious new varieties. 
If any member of the present Administration deserves 
support it is Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock, for his 
work in protecting the public lauds. 
The Colorado Agricultural College is not located in a great 
fruit growing section, so the short cours'e in horticulture 
was carried to tbe fruit growers at Delta. A good idea that. 
We want further information about dipping nursery trees 
in lime and sulphur in place of fumigation. Is it safe? 
Who has tried it? The Oregon Board of Agriculture requires 
such dipping. 
A man recently back from the Canadian Northwest tells 
us that much of the soil preparation for wheat can be done 
with disk harrows. A tool to sharpen the disks quickly is 
greatly needed. 
Prof. Ladd, of North Dakota, reports the wicked sale of 
“artificial cider” to school children. This stuff contains 
6 to 12 per cent of alcohol. One should have an artificial 
inside to withstand it! 
The Michigan State game warden wishes to import Rus¬ 
sian wolf hounds for the purpose of destroying wolves, 
which appear to multiply more rapidly than they can be 
killed. They are said to destroy many sheep, in some sec¬ 
tions, and are a nuisance generally. Let him also deport 
several thousand scrub dogs. 
