THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
t>! ;L» 
The Rural New-Yorker 
TIIE BUSINESS FARMERS PAPER, 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Home*. 
Established 1850. 
roblhbrd werbly by the Kural Pulilishiut- Company, 409 Pearl Street, New York. 
Herbert W. Colli NGWOOD, President and Editor, 
John J. Dili/in, Treasurer and General -Manager. 
Wm. F. Dili-on, Secretary. 
Dk. Walter Van Fleet and Mrs. K. T. Roylb, Associate Editors. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8s. 6d , or 8^ marks, or 10*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 
us; 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 suberibers against rogues, but wedo 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 t<> us within one month of the time of the transaction, 
and you must have mentioned The Rckal Nkw-Yokkkk 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. 
* 
Our old friend H. S. Wiley of Cayuga, N. Y., has 
been appointed judge of fruit exhibits at the Boston 
fruit show—October 10-24. This is to be the largest 
fruit show ever held in the East, and Mr. Wiley is 
large enough to cover it. As a president of the Ameri¬ 
can Apple Consumers’ League he knows a good fruir 
when he secs or eats it, and he will give everything 
from Lady apple down to Ren Davis a square deal. 
* 
We get many letters about the Wonderberry and 
the recent article. We judge that the trade and many 
expert growers sized it up properly mouths ago. The 
quality of the berries is not yet under discussion. One 
thing at a time. Just now we are offering proof that 
the plant sold by John Lewis Childs is black night¬ 
shade. Let Mr. Burbank make good his offer of $10,000 
or call for further proof before vve take up other 
things. We will give him a fair chance to do one or 
the other, and then proceed. 
* 
You will see that people are beginning to give an 
opinion as to the value of farmers’ institutes. We 
make no comment yet, because we want free and fair 
expression of opinion. No one should attempt to 
work off personal feeling or prejudice in discussing 
these institutes. The best way is to try to put yourself 
in the place of those who want to take the responsi¬ 
bility for these meetings. Tell us what you would do 
in such a case. Along with the institute letters are 
coming opinions about various bulletins. That is a 
good subject for discussion also. 
* 
Corn prices are rising, as we expected. A heavy 
crop was planted but floods in the Central West and 
drought in the East .will, unless relieved, cut the 
yield. There will be little old corn left on hand. 
We urged you to plant corn; now we doubly urge 
you to take care of the crop. You will need every 
kernel of it. It is very drv with us and we are 
keeping the cultivators moving, leaving the surface 
as level as possible. That is one way to prevent 
evaporation. If the soil were too wet we should hill 
up, as that presents greater surface to the air and 
increases evaporation. Save the corn. 
* 
This discussion of the cow question has struck a 
ih w turn. It seems that a number of farmers have 
been led to figure, and they find that their milk costs 
more than they get for it unless they put a high value 
on the manure. A lead pencil faithfully used certainly 
can conjure up a terrible ghost for some of us. We 
actually have men write us that they would not keep 
cattle if they thought they could keep up their farms 
without manure. These are not the men who follow 
dairying as their main reliance, but farmers who keep 
cows as a sort of side issue, and sell the milk for what 
they can get. If a good share of this milk could be 
kept off the market the real dairymen, or those who 
make their living almost entirely out of cows, would 
be better off. There need be no doubt that continuous 
crops of fruit, grain, hay, potatoes and most other 
farm crops can be profitably grown with chemicals and 
green crops. It is being done with great success in 
many parts of the country. One of the most notable 
examples of this is found on the Delaware peninsula, 
"Phis section is not naturally adapted to live stock¬ 
keeping. nor has the habit of farmers run in that 
direction. Yet by the use of lime, chemicals and green 
crops the soil has been improved, pasture grasses 
brought in and the yield of all farm crops increased. 
This discussion of the cost of a quart of milk will have 
great results if it will drive some cow keepers to a 
study of the chemicals and clover proposition. 
Less milk from the cow keepers will mean a better 
-how for the dairymen. 
* 
Every year several people write asking why we 
do not have a puzzle department. We usually find 
that these parties want to prepare the puzzles. The 
following note was not sent us to start a puzzle 
department, but we print it: 
I wish that this poor old tax-ridden and politician- 
cursed State had a paper like yours. We certainly need 
it. I expect that those engaged in productive toil in this 
Stale have a larger drove of non-producers and parasites 
to support than in any other State. We are certainly 
"taxed to death" to support our drove of worthless poli¬ 
ticians, and for every politician who is feeding at the 
public crib there are a dozen more scratching tooth and 
nail to get their snouts in the feed trough. 
Now the puzzle is to name the State. Can you do 
it from this description? Try your hand at guessing 
and see how many such States we have. 
* 
“Harry" Thaw, the murderer, is now in an insane 
asylum. He is trying to prove his sanity, and at the 
recent investigation various witnesses gave testimony. 
Among others was a farmer, who said: 
Thaw told me that farming is a nice business pro¬ 
vided you have enough money to live without working. 
I agree with him. He is rational by all means. 
This man made the mistake of describing “agricul¬ 
ture” instead of farming. Mr. Thaw’s remark cer¬ 
tainly indicates great wisdom, but he was thinking of 
gentlemen who farm the farmer rather than those 
who farm the soil. Or maybe he had in mind those 
who grow ginseng or Wonderberries or spineless cactus 
or who invest in gilt-edged “stocks.” When a farmer 
cuts up 35 cents of the dollar with hired men, feed 
dealer and tax collector he does not have enough left 
to “live without work." That condition is more likely 
to be found among those who cut up the 65 cents. 
* 
The annual game of bluff and dicker between grow¬ 
ers and apple buyers promises to be closer than ever 
this year. I he buyers usually come forward early 
with stories of big crops and attempts to make the 
public believe that low prices are assured. On the 
other hand, the growers discount the large crop 
stories, for it is to their interests to spread the be¬ 
lief that the apple crop is short. A few years ago the 
growers were at a disadvantage in this preliminary 
game. Most of them could only figure on local con¬ 
ditions, while the buyers were everywhere. Now the 
growers have formed strong organizations and make 
a business in co-operating to obtain crop reports. This 
gives them a far better chance to meet the buyers. 
Every year at this time we begin to collect fair statis¬ 
tics regarding the apple crop. Of course, no one can 
L,ii now just what the final outcome will be. yet 
there are indications which help. Will you tell us 
what the chances in your neighborhood are for a 
fair crop? Such reports all help us size up the 
situation. 
* 
In a recent article on “The Wizard Burbank” we 
find the following statement: 
Thos. A. Edison, the wizard of electricity, has said 
of Burbank', the wizard of growing things, that he 
is to-day the nation's most valuable asset. 
We have no desire to challenge Mr. Edison’s state¬ 
ment at this time. As Mr. Burbank has told us, the 
public must decide. Our notion of a valuable asset 
is one that is never repudiated and never repudiates 
an agreement. We all know that Mr. Burbank has 
agreed to give $10,000 to any one who will prove 
that his Wonderberry is black nightshade. We have 
offered proof to that effect. Seeds were obtained 
freftn John Lewis Childs, the introducer. They were 
sold for Wonderberry and marked Wonderberry. 
They grew into plants which have been identified as 
black nightshade. Mr. Burbank should now come 
forward with his $10,000, or tell us what further 
proof is required. In his character of “the nation’s 
greatest asset” he is under a double obligation to 
do one or the other. The larger the man the more 
careful he should be about carrying out his agree¬ 
ments. In the famous letter printed on page 654 
Air. Burbank makes use of this classic expression: 
“The man who is busy has no time to hunt fleas.” 
No one with experience will combat that statement, 
yet he will also agree that a flea which keeps at 
work can compel the busiest man to take the time 
to hunt for it. So we confidently expect that ere 
long Mr. Burbank will find time to bunt for bis 
pen and sign the $10,000 check. 
.Tnl.v 24. 
Probably few of our readers know of the work- 
done by the Interstate Commerce Commission in set¬ 
tling charges of extortionate railroad rates. There 
are many such cases, and upon formal complaint the 
Commission takes them up. In brief the necessary 
proceeding is as follows: If you think a common 
carrier has overcharged you first write to the sec¬ 
retary of the Commission at Washington. He sends 
you a blank form or docket which you fill out and 
sigi.. This makes a complaint, and you must know 
what the true rate ought to he and what the carrier 
should pay hack. The Commission then goes to the 
carrier with the complaint. Tn some cases the carrier 
admits the charge and an order of the Commission 
pays it. In other cases the carrier will not admit 
that its rates are unreasonable. Then a formal hear¬ 
ing is ordered at some place near where the com¬ 
plainant lives. Either one of the commissioners or 
a special examiner presides, and both sides have a 
fait hearing. Under the present law carriers may 
establish for themselves such rates as they deem 
proper. The Commission, after formal complaint, de¬ 
cides whether they are reasonable or not. We are 
able to obtain reports of many interesting cases' where 
complaint has been made to the commissioners, and 
as a result of which rates were changed. Beginning 
next week these cases will be taken up and analyzed. 
They will show us still more about the farmers’ 
share of the consumer’s dollar and encourage some 
one to demand and obtain his rights. 
* 
Ten Republican members of the 17. S. Senate re¬ 
fused to vote for the tariff bill. Such a thing never 
happened before. These. 10 Senators represented the 
States of Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, 
Nebraska. South Dakota and Indiana. Tn all these 
States except Indiana Senatorial candidates are 
named by direct vote of the people, and this fact is 
responsible for the independence of these 10 Senators. 
Their people have told them just what is wanted, 
and their vote expresses the feeling of the people 
who elected them. Much the same thing happened 
in the House. There 18 Republicans put themselves 
on record as best they could. Again the protest 
came from Iowa, Kansas. Wisconsin, Minnesota, Da¬ 
kota, Nebraska and Washington, where direct pri¬ 
maries are held. We venture to say that 70 per cent 
of the people of this country are opposed to the tariff 
bill as the Senate has left it. If there were a chance 
to get at all Congressmen as there is in the Western 
States few men in Congress would have the nerve 
to suggest such a bill. With a fair system of direct 
nominations in New York it is doubtful if any Con¬ 
gressman representing a rural county would dare 
vote for the Senate bill. Such facts must be pre¬ 
sented in cold-blooded shape again and again, for 
our people must realize two things: Neither Con¬ 
gress nor the Legislature will give you what you 
need until you and men like you can control your 
member. You never will control him until you take 
the power of selecting him away from the politicians. 
Nothing but a system of direct nominations will do 
that. 
BREVITIES. 
The reign of drought. 
How many barnacles in your barn? 
Reports from the Wonderberry growers are in order! 
Tex to one a bouquet would do you more barm than 
n brickbat. 
The “next year man” is not usually a hard com¬ 
petitor. 
Uxiyer what condition does it pay to spray more than 
once to kill the Codling moth? 
Tub latest suggestion for “keeping cool" is to use a 
water bag partly tilled with cool water as a pillow. 
Now they find that the flavors vised in “soft drinks" are 
adulterated and often harmful. The safest “soft" drink 
is pure water. 
Alaska gave us $10,000,000 worth or gold iu 1!>08. 
But what of it. when New York gave $23,000,000 worth 
of potatoes and Vermont $18,000,000 worth of hay? 
The French have varieties of apples grown specially 
for cider making. These varieties are very high in sugar 
and tannin. Two of these apples contain over 10 per 
emit, of sugar. 
Oxm thing you may say about wind power is that it 
does not wear out fast. We have worked a windmill 
steadily for 10 years, and not until last week was it 
necessary to send for repairs. 
Here is a hopeful spirit from Massachusetts: "1 pur¬ 
chased an abandoned farm here two years ago, and am 
busy trying to get the larger part of the consumer’s 
dollar, and am having good success so far." 
The Canadian maple sugar cro > amounted, last year, 
to 1T.804.825 pounds, which is about one-half the world's 
total supply. The taste of maple chases an American 
around the world. We once bought maple syrup for a 
subscriber on tin* island of Java and seut it safely to 
him with a hag of buckwheat flom*. 
