618 
THIS RURAL NEW-YORKER 
May 15, 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FAliMEIi’S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
Published weekly by the Kural Publishing Company, 409 Pearl Street, .New York. 
Herbert W. Collingwoob, President and Editor, 
John J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dillon, Secretary. 
Dr. Walter Van Fleet and Mrs. B. T. Royle, Associate Editors. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAH. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8 s. Gd., or 8‘-2 marks, or lO'a francs. Remit in money order, 
express order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates 50 cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for time 
orders. References required for advertisers unknown to 
ns; and cash must accompany transient orders. 
“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 ourcolumns, and any such swindler will be publicly ex¬ 
posed. We protect subcribers against rogues, but we do not guarantee 
to adjust trilling differences between subscribers and honest, respon¬ 
sible 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 advertiser. 
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 pur¬ 
poses. We depend on our old friends to make this 
known to neighbors and friends. 
ik 
Hieracium aurantiacum is offered among hardy 
plants in several nurserymen’s catalogues, price 25 
cents. It is undoubtedly hardy, but after you have 
wrestled with the orange hawkweed or devil’s paint 
brush for a while, you will wonder whether it was 
worth paying 25 cents to learn that science ad¬ 
dresses it as Hieracium. This weed threatens to 
ruin several sections for profitable farming. In 
some States there are laws designed to compel far¬ 
mers to destroy it. The plant is well named, for 
the Evil One might use it as a brush to paint disaster 
over farm fields. A known weed is worse than an 
unknown “novelty.” 
* 
It is estimated that the present world’s consump¬ 
tion of chemical fertilizers is about 10,000,000 tons. 
Each year there is an increase. There are two ex¬ 
tremes in the fertilizer question. The farmer on 
new, strong land with low prices for crops has no 
use for chemicals, and decries their use. On the 
other hand the close student of farming says that 
if it had not been for chemicals some of our most 
productive lands to-day would be as poor as a 
desert. They are both right. Sections and nations 
have been saved to civilization by the judicious use 
of chemicals. On the other hand, millions have 
been lost through improper use of them. 
* 
We have a large correspondence with city men 
who want to try farming. Most of them have their 
minds set on the dairy or chicken business—the work 
to be done by hired help. Our advice is to let the 
live stock alone until they can handle the job in per¬ 
son. It seems easy to take care of stock, but well- 
bred cows and hens are not machines made of wood 
and metal. The master’s eye, and a well-trained eye 
at that, should be on these animals. Our advice to 
the city farmer is to put his best grass land into per¬ 
manent meadows and keep it there, selling the hay 
and using fertilizers to keep up the feed. Better 
old-fashioned farming that pays expenses than “ag¬ 
riculture” that runs you in debt. 
% 
New Hampshire has now a direct nominations 
law. Candidates for office must “declare them¬ 
selves” and pay a fee. They must agree that if 
nominated they will not withdraw, and that if elec¬ 
ted they will qualify. The fees run from $100 for 
Governor to $2 for member of the House of Rep¬ 
resentatives. Names are put on the ballot in al¬ 
phabetical order, and the primary is held on the 
first Tuesday in September. The party platform is 
to be prepared by the party candidates for the larger 
offices, and the party nominees elect county com¬ 
mittees. Provision is made for recounts in the pay¬ 
ment of fees. Thus New Hampshire is the first 
Eastern State to break away from the convention 
plan of nominating candidates, and she breaks en¬ 
tirely away. 
* 
Some rascals are bold enough to try to use a 
promise of Federal aid as a bait for suckers. D. P. 
Coble tried this in California. He advertised for 
men to go to Alaska for the U. S. Geological Sur¬ 
vey at “$60 a month and found.” He required a 
deposit of $65 from each applicant. He actually 
got thirty men with their hands started for their 
pockets. He was all ready to accept the “deposits” 
and then deposit himself over the line in Mexico 
when the authorities got him. He is now in jail 
facing a $1,000 fine, or three years imprisonment 
or both. When any man claims that the United 
States or a State Government, has authorized him to 
accept money “on deposit” for getting a job put 
him down as a liar at once. Then write under his 
name that of the fellow who offered you a great 
bargain in investments, or tells you some big story 
of what he can do. 
* 
Probably thousands of our people have, at some 
time, received what seems to be a neatly written 
letter reading about like this: 
If you are shipping Leghorn or State eggs and are not 
satisfied with the prices you are getting for them, get 
in touch with us at once. We have unsurpassed outlets 
on this market and can place your goods to the best 
possible advantage. We will honor drafts for a liberal 
amount of shipment, bill-lading attached, and will make 
full returns day of arrival of the goods. 
It may be for eggs or butter or fruit or some¬ 
thing else. There is always a statement that the 
sender has “unsurpassed facilities” for getting the 
best trade. Sometimes he throws a few choice bou¬ 
quets of words to the effect that he knows your 
goods arc extra fine. Now this letter is a printed cir¬ 
cular sent to anyone whose name can be obtained. 
In most cases the game is to get one or two trial 
shipments. Returns might be made for those at even 
more than market rates. This is usually a bait to 
draw out larger shipments. Then there are long 
excuses—broken eggs, bad condition, too small and 
half a dozen other trumped-up reasons for cutting 
the price or refusing to settle. These people do not 
have any better chance at the “finest trade” than 
dozens of other commission men. If they did they 
never would mention it, for it would be as valuable 
as a trade secret. You put it right down among 
your sure things that when a man comes offering 
you some special privilege, in the end it will mean 
the privilege of going through your pocket book. 
♦ 
Several speakers at farmers’ institutes have come 
to us frankly asking what practical farmers think 
of these meetings. One man, who is greatly res¬ 
pected, puts it about this way: 
I sometimes feel that we who go about from place to 
place at these meetings do not, after all, get the real 
critical sense of the audience. A few people who are 
good talkers praise the work, but what about the silent 
ones who listen end say nothing? A few are always 
ready to clap their hands and applaud, but I would like 
to know what is in the mind of the working farmer 
in felt boots who sits in a back seat. 
We think we are able to tell him in part, at least, 
for we get much that comes straight from the con¬ 
fidence of such farmers. The institute speakers 
cannot do any wiser thing than to learn how to en¬ 
courage and keep just this class of farmers. The 
retired farmers and successful men who make up a 
good share of the audience are well able to take care 
of themselves. It is pleasant to entertain them, 
and their praise gives a man a thrill of satisfaction. 
It is a truer service to the State, however, to gain 
the confidence of the plain farmer and help him. 
We commend to our friends, the institute speakers, 
three verses of the second chapter of St. James: 
“For if there come unto ycur assembly a man with 
a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in, 
also, a poor man, in vile raiment; 
“And ye have respect to him that wearetli the gay 
clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in a good 
place; and say to the poor, stand thou there, or sit 
here under my footstool: 
“Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are be¬ 
come judges of evil thoughts?” 
* 
Dear Rural New-Yorker. — The notices have been 
posted declaring a quarantine on dogs in several towns 
including our town. We desire to abide by the law and 
muzzle our dog, but it will just about break his heart. 
We want to know just how far this quarantine law ex¬ 
tends. We have a common shepherd dog, but in him a 
most valued friend, that we would quickly defend with 
our money if necessary. He never goes in the highway, 
is always out on the farm with the team, comes in at 
noon and night time with the men folks and sleeps in 
the sitting room. There are but two or three dogs in 
the neighborhood. Can he be shot if caught in the field 
with bis master, provided he has not the muzzle on? 
Can the constable (who in this case is generally three- 
fourths drunk) shoot him on sight if he is in the high¬ 
way, and sees our dog around our farm? Tell me. please, 
what he can do and also what rights T and my dog have 
in the case. a broojie co., (n. y.) subscriber. 
In a case of this sort old Shep has our sympathy, 
but the law is with the sheriff and his deputy. We 
urge you to read the statement by Commissioner 
Pearson on page 523. His department has no con¬ 
trol over sheriffs or their deputies. If, however, you 
find any definite case of cruelty or improper action, 
and will report it, action will be taken. Under the 
present law it would be legal for a constable or 
any other person to kill any dog which was found 
unconfined or unmuzzled in a quarantined district. 
It is not likely that anyone, unless he were actuated 
by spite, would enter your yard or farm and shoot 
your dog; yet, under the present law he could prob¬ 
ably do so provided you let the dog run at large 
without a muzzle. This law will seem a harsh one 
to you, yet if we were to ask the opinion of those 
who have had experience with hydrophobia they 
would quickly say it is only a part of public safety. 
There seems to be no way of getting rid of this 
horrible disease except by preventing dogs from 
conveying it through their bite. The muzzle is the 
only thing short of slaughter that will do this. 
Really, the danger from a gentle home dog is greater 
than with any other if he be once bitten or scratched 
by a rabid animal, for children do not fear him and 
he may turn on them without warning. Our sympa¬ 
thies are with these faithful home dogs, and their 
owners, but human life must be protected. Cases 
are on record where just such dogs as yours, al¬ 
though apparently kept in sight all the time, have 
developed the disease when it is known to be in 
the county. 
* 
Many a man lives his clean, honest, helpful life 
in a small community. The world is made better 
for his living, yet his name means little or nothing 
to those who live a dozen miles from him. He 
doesn’t get into the newspapers. One of the most 
useless and petty characters this country has yet 
known is James Hazen Hyde. Left in control of 
a great insurance company he played the fool until 
forced by public sentiment to get out. Then curs¬ 
ing and ridiculing the land which unhappily is re¬ 
sponsible for him and the people who filled his 
pockets with gold he “went abroad” to live. He 
has just been arrested in Paris for breaking the 
automobile laws and sentenced to a month’s im¬ 
prisonment. We wish this gilded donkey could be 
put at hard labor and fed on bread and potatoes 
during his jail service. We know now what to 
do with the auto hogs! Pay their passage to 
France, where the birth rate is so low that human 
life has some value. 
* 
A new law in New Jersey provides that in each 
municipality the authorities shall appoint a “Board 
of Protectors.” This is composed of three men who 
are to post the names of drunkards. They are to 
make a list of the names of citizens who are habitual 
drunkards or are likely to become such. These names 
are to be sent to local saloon keepers with orders 
not to sell liquor to these parties. There are severe 
penalties for violation of such order and also against 
the drunkard. There ought to be added a provision 
compelling the authorities to put a man’s name on 
this list on testimony and demand from his wife or 
children. We understand that both temperance peo¬ 
ple and the liquor interests favored this bill. The 
latter now realize the strength of the temperance 
movement. While it was confined to “a few cranks 
and fanatics” they could afford to ignore it. As a 
result New Jersey was plastered with the worst sort 
of saloons—those owned privately by the brewers 
and distillers and run publicly by agents who receive 
a commission on what they sell! This plan manu¬ 
factured drunkards at wholesale. Now the liquor 
men wake up to find a vast majority of country peo¬ 
ple ready to fight the saloon. They have always felt 
opposed to it, but now they are prepared to fight in 
the first public movement in which farmers all over 
the country are ready to drop party differences and 
work together. A few Jerseymen are complaining 
about the new law because it “invades private rights.” 
So long as a man remains at large he has no right 
to be a drunkard, for all drunkards are a menace to 
life and property. It ought to be easy for any man 
to prove that he does not drink liquor. 
BREVITIES. 
Lime! Lime ! 
Brings the soil to time! 
When the soil is acid 
Not to use it is a crime! 
A sweatshop ! Nobody expects the farm to be any¬ 
thing else in hot weather. 
Don’t be afraid to cut the tops of the young trees 
back when you plant them. 
A financial “swelled head’’ usually comes from mak¬ 
ing money from watered stock. 
The “Black Hand” holds up an individual for tribute. 
So does the white hand that will not work, yet accepts 
your bread. 
Your place in life may be small, your burden heavy, 
your living plain, yet you are the only one who can 
keep yourself from high thinking. 
This is the season when the farmer in sandy land has 
the call. If he has his sand stuffed with humus and 
keeps it well tilled he will have the call all Summer. 
The total cost of buildings erected in this country dur¬ 
ing 1008 was $540,407,390, or $79,081,500 less than the 
year before. New York comes first with $117,819,382, 
with not a single wooden building built on Manhattan 
Island. 
