lm 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
143 
Hope Farm Notes 
The Fire. —On January 29 reports 
from all over the West indicated a 
hard blizzard. The storm was working 
our way, and shortly after noon of that 
day broke into a fierce snowstorm. 
Later the snow turned to sleet, and 
we concluded that the blizzard had 
found the path down the St. Lawrence 
River more to its taste, and would 
simply rush its coat-tails over New Jer¬ 
sey. The night closed in with the mer¬ 
cury falling and a strong wind from 
the north blowing rain and sleet over 
the farm. I remember thinking as the 
lights went out what a mercy it was 
that all our people were housed and 
comfortable. 
Fire! Fire! 
I had gone to bed nursing an ulcer¬ 
ated tooth. A dentist had bored through 
it and plunged a lance far up into it, 
but in sleep I had forgotten all about 
it. The shriek of “Fire!” brought me 
back to the realities of life. There 
was a red glare on the window. At 
first I thought it was our house; then 
it seemed to be the barn, for a stream, 
of sparks and burning brands was 
pouring over it. Then, as I scrambled 
into clothes, I saw it was our neigh¬ 
bor’s house—located about 200 yards 
north of our barn, with the wind blow¬ 
ing a gale in our direction! It is hard 
to say how thankful we were for the 
sleet and snow which had frozen all 
over our buildings. But for this noth¬ 
ing could have saved them, for great 
blazing brands, half the size of a shin¬ 
gle, were flying in the gale and light¬ 
ing on our roofs and in the barnyard. 
Mother stayed in the house with the 
baby, though it was hard for her to 
be chained there as a spectator when 
she realized that women had been left 
alone in that burning house. If there 
is any more dreadful spectacle than the 
burning of a country home on such a 
wild night I do not want to see it. By 
the time the neighbors got there the 
entire upper part of the house was 
ablaze. It was a beautiful house, built 
some years ago by a Wall Street man 
who spent thousands in decorations and 
rich woodwork. All this added to the 
blaze, which, fanned by the wind, flared 
up so that it lighted the entire country. 
We got out a good share of the rich 
furniture on the lower floor. Several 
pieces were so large that it was neces¬ 
sary to chop away the doors before we 
could make room. My hoys wanted to 
go in for more, but the upper floors, 
were burning through, and I called 
them back just before the crash came. 
Out of range of the heat, hut in the 
bright light from the fire, sat the group 
of homeless women. Those of you who 
have gone through this experience 
know with what strange fascination 
people gaze at the destruction of their 
home. It is as if the memories and 
hopes of years had come crowding 
upon them with overpowering force to 
numb their power of action. Half- 
clad, in shawls and wraps, these women 
sat, with their feet in the snow, and in 
the teeth of the gale, watching the 
home which meant so much to them 
vanish in smoke and flame. It is not 
good for people to do that, and we were 
all glad when, at last, they could break¬ 
away from the spell of the fire and 
come to our house. The owner of the 
home had just started on a wedding 
trip. It must have been a sad home¬ 
coming when, on Sunday morning, they 
came back to find a pile of ruins. The 
only thing left unburned was a piece 
of music. It had been carried out and 
had blown back upon -the cold ruins. It 
was “Old Folks at Home.” Just at 
the edge of the ruins I found another 
sheet of music pretty well scorched. 
The hand of fate had selected a good 
one for this occasion— “If you love we 
—all the urorld is wine!” 
The fire roared on until only a few 
charred posts and -timbers were left. If 
anyone wants a striking lesson in hu¬ 
mility and the emptiness of pomp and 
power he should see a beautiful man¬ 
sion such as this was and then look at 
the pile of blackened ruins which the 
hre has left. There is not enough of 
the ashes to half fill the cellar! The 
blaze seems to have started at a break 
in the chimney. That is the way many 
country fires start. A crack occurs in 
the masonry; a piece of timber is put 
close to it; on a cold night an extra 
hot fire is started. The timber is first 
scorched, then charred—then it forms a 
coal, and this smolders until air reaches 
it, and then flame blazes out. We can¬ 
not possibly be -too careful of our fireSj 
or of our matches. A fire which breaks 
out in the daytime may be put out, but 
at night it will usually gain such head¬ 
way that nothing can stop it. There 
are no fire engines in the country, and 
most of us have no adequate water 
supply. If there is a tank on the farm 
it should be kept as nearly full as 
possible all the time and a hose and 
nozzle provided. Every farm household 
might well organize a little fire depart¬ 
ment of its own and have it clearly 
understood by all just what is to be 
done in case of fire. 
Stone Wall Planting. —Here is a 
man who has tackled a problem which 
confronts me: 
On my farm of 2r>0 acres, recently pur¬ 
chased. there are two stone walls that 
each spread out over a rod or more of 
ground, running down across the meadow 
on a side lull. I want something more 
useful growing along them than weeds and 
berry bushes, that have to he mowed every 
year, so I am thinking of planting apple 
trees each side of file wall, planting them 
zigzag. I would like to know what variety 
it would he best to plant. I want a kind 
that is a good keeper, so they can be fed 
to stock if it doesn’t pay to market them. 
Last Fall I could g'-t 30 to 70 cents 
per hundred pounds for paring apples. 
Madison Co., N. Y. g. w. 
I have found the cherry best suited 
to this stone-wall planting. Apples put 
in such a place grow well, and when 
they come in bearing give good fruit. 
Such a stone wall will provide a fine 
“mulch” for the trees. Borers and 
other insects are very bad in such sit¬ 
uations. It seems to me that millions 
of insects head for these stone walls, 
and that is one reason why the soil 
under and about them is so strong. It 
will not do to plant apple trees there 
and let them alone except for cutting 
the weeds and piling around them. 
You must keep a constant watch for 
borers and pull the mulch away in 
Winter. Mice and rabbits are very bad 
in such places, and you will have to 
keep the trees protected in some way. 
We should plant Baldwin in such 
places. If you want.a variety to feed 
to stock you can add Ben Davis. 
Food Problems. —A Jerseyman wants 
to know which is the cheaper food for 
growing stock—wheat bran or dried 
brewers’ grains, price being the same. 
I should take wheat bran! I have 
found no better food for growth. The 
reason is that good bran contains over 
100 pounds of ash in a ton. This ash 
contains the phosphoric acid and lime 
which form the bone. This is what 
you must have for growing stock. The 
“cereals” which are made from whole 
wheat or oats are much better for chil¬ 
dren than those which contain only 
parts of the grain, because the greater 
proportion of the minerals are found 
in the outer shell of the grain. This 
is what we call “bran” when separated 
from the rest of the grain. If this is 
so, why do you find fault when the 
feed dealers mix oat hulls in their 
“mixtures?” Because the oat hull is a 
very different proposition. It is more 
like the husk of corn, and is so hard 
and indigestible that stock get little out 
of it. ... I am well satisfied that 
our barrel of molasses has proved a 
paying investment. Our horses have all 
improved in appearance since we began 
feeding the molasses. We have not 
weighed them, but their coats are softer 
and smoother, they show greater life 
on the same food, and are thriftier in 
every way. We are still feeding dry 
cornstalks. I like the effect of that 
molasses and will never winter horses 
on our present feed without a supply 
of this sweet stuff. It does not seem 
so valuable as a food as an “appetizer” 
or tonic. 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 12. 
ONE MAN DOES 
WORK OF TWO 
With Iron Age Kidintt Culti¬ 
vators. You can do it easier and 
better, because they are built ou 
lines that make this possible. 
Hoes are under perfect control. 
Can regulate depth and 
keep hoes desired dis¬ 
tance from growing 
plants. Wore ad¬ 
vantages in our 
IRON AGE 
Book«i t’n 
FREE. 
Pivot 
wheel 
IV BATEMAN MFG. CO.. Box 1 
HARVEY BOLSTER SPRINCS 
Soon save their cost. Make every wagon a spring 
wagon, thorefero fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc., 
bring more money. Ask for special proposition. 
HaiTey Spring Co., 71617th St., Eacine, Wig. 
Fre© Trial To You 
quare Deals and 
Square Dealers 
Your dealer is in business for himself, but— 
He will surely give you a square deal—other¬ 
wise you would quit him and he must hold your 
trade to stay in business. Therefore— 
His best interest depends upon his serving 
your best interest. The two are really one. Now— 
Ninety-nine out of every hundred dealers will 
tell you that Rex Flintkote Roofing gives a pro¬ 
tective service that is not only the most positive 
against weather and fire, but cheapest in cost per 
year of service. 
The facts—long years of satisfactory wear—prove this and 
your dealer knows the facts—it's his business to. 
This endorsement of your dealer is your greatest protection in 
buying roofing. 
Read what trustworthy dealers say about 
T. Schunk 
Mr. Remer 
Tos. Binford 
REX 
SCHUNK-MARQUARDT CO. 
Toledo, O., Dec. 22, ’08 
We have sold Rex Flintkote for 
years, and knowing it as we do, 
recommend it as the best. It’s a 
pleasure to sell it for it gives en¬ 
tire satisfaction. 
Yours truly, 
Schunk-Marquardt Co. 
REMER BROS. 
Saginaw, Mich v Jan. 5,08 
Gentlemen: We believe Rex 
Flintkote is the best roofing on the 
market. We hear nothing but 
praise of it from our customers 
who are using it. Our sales are 
increasing all the time. We have 
all faith in it and recommend it to 
every one. 
Yours very truly, 
Remer Bros. 
JOSEPH BINFORD & SON 
Crawfordsville, Ind., Jan. 5, ’og 
Gentlemen: Our first order for 
Rex Flintkote, six years ago, was 
a trial order, as we had little faith 
in prepared roofings. We are now 
doing a fine business in it against 
six or seven competitors selling 
cheaper brands. 
Yours truly, 
Joseph Binford & Son. 
FLINTKOTE 
ROOFING 
SWINT, REINECK & CO. 
Fremont, Ohio, Dec, n, ’08 
Dear Sirs: We have sold thou¬ 
sands of squares of Rex Flintkote 
in the last seven years, and have 
neveryethad one, single complaint 
about it. We wish your continued 
success. Yours very truly, 
Swint, Reineck & Co. 
W. B. HAYDEN & SONS 
Cassopolis, Mich., Dec. 29, ’08 
Gentlemen: After selling Rex 
Flintkote three years we find it 
just what you say it is—not one 
complaint yet. We enjoy selling 
it, for the quality is there. We 
recommend it to our customers. 
Yours truly, 
\V. B. Hayden & Son, 
J. F. Hayden. 
F' J. Swint 
J. F. Hayden 
J. \V. MACKEMER & CO. 
Peoria, Ill., Sept. 7, ’07 
Dear Sir: We have sold Re> 
Flintkote for five years and find 
that it sells on its merits. We have 
already sold this year, three times 
as much as all of last and expect 
to sell more next. We have yet jfPv 
to receive the first complaint. rw&~. 
Yours truly, ' ** * - 
J. W, Mackemer J.W.Mackemer 
WRITE FOR FREE BOOK AND SAMPLES 
and the name of our nearest dealer. The book gives interesting and valuable infor¬ 
mation about roofs and roofing that every house owner should know. The sam¬ 
ples are for you to test. They will speak for themselves. Write to-day. 
J. A. & W. BIRD & CO., 34 India St., Boston, Mass., U. S.A. 
Cahoon Seed Sower 
Sows all kinds of grain and grass seed. The most correct, simple and durable broad¬ 
cast sower made. Lasts a lifetime—made of steel, iron and brass. Guaranteed to do 
more and better work than any other hand seed sower. You save time and seed and get 
iigsrer crop, with the Cahoon. Pays for itself many times over every year. Ask your 
dealer for the Cahoon. Send to-day for the Seed Sowers’ Manual. It tells how to save 
seed and have bigger crops. It’s free. 
GOODELL CO., 14 Main St., Antrim, New Hampshire 
Start in with a DEERE 
No. A Corn Planter 
Accurate Edge 
Selection 
Drop 
T! 
'H E great accuracy of 
drop is what naturally in¬ 
terests you most. Deere 
genuine edge selection of corn gives 
the highest accuracy of drop attain¬ 
able. Repeated tests show ten to fif¬ 
teen bushels per acre in favor of ac¬ 
curate planting. This, combined with 
many other exclusive, desirable fea¬ 
tures, makes the No. 9 a profitable in¬ 
vestment. You profit by tho increased 
yield due to perfect stand, by the addi¬ 
tional years of service and freedom from 
break down. 
Most progressive farmers and planters 
won’t have any other. Best informed 
dealers refuse to consider handling 
any other. Investigate the time sav¬ 
ing and profitable reasons why. 
Main seed shaft driven directly 
by traction wheels takes all the 
strain from check wire, and avoids 
side draft. Compensating valves 
insure perfect check regardless of 
team speed. 
Instantly changed from check to 
drill drop. Tip-over hoppers—very con¬ 
venient in changing plates. Plates for 
all kinds of corn. Five sets always 
furnished. Standard 
runner, stub run¬ 
ner, or single disc 
furrow openers, as 
ordered. Concave 
or open tire 
wheels 
Fertiliz 
er attach¬ 
ment that hills or 
drills, furnished ex¬ 
tra. Every detail is 
worked out in the best 
manner. “Write a Postal to Deere” 
and keep posted. We have but briefly 
mentioned some of tho strong fea¬ 
tures above. Just drop us a post 
card, and we will promptly send 
detailed proofs free. Deere goods 
are of the highest standard, and 
satisfy the most exacting. Ask 
for our latest corn book. The 
whole subject of gathering,select¬ 
ing, curing and testing the seed, 
as well as planting, treated in a 
small space, fully illustrated; a 
book for the man who wants better 
corn. Handsome pocket ledger free 
if you will do us the favor or men¬ 
tioning this paper. Address 
Deere & Mansur Co. 
Moline, Illinois 
Come Out with a 
far Better Corn Crop 
