1908. 
. Hope Farm Notes 
Winter \\ ork. —A good many gar¬ 
deners or general farmers lose much of 
what they make during Summer because 
they have no Winter job which will 
bring in money. Of course there are al¬ 
ways chores to do in Winter, but in our 
country few farmers can get a cash in¬ 
come out of Winter labor. A dairyman 
will always have something to sell, and 
the man who has stored apples or pota¬ 
toes can peddle them out, but most of 
us have not developed Winter jobs as 
we should. The high price of grain 
makes many farmers hesitate at poultry 
keeping. It might pay well if rightly 
handled, if it were not for the trouble 
of keeping up the stock. The work of 
attending to incubators and brooders 
comes just at the time when the land re¬ 
quires every attention. It is a rare man 
who can attend to fruit and garden and 
at the same time do justice to the chicken 
business. Some years ago it was argued 
that the small greenhouse would solve 
the problem of Winter work in our 
country. 1 here may be room for one 
or two houses in each neighborhood, but 
as a commercial enterprise there seems 
to be little in it. At Hope Farm we 
pass the Winter largely in getting ready 
for Summer. Our apples and potatoes 
were sold early before the prices fell. 
The cabbage has mostly been delivered. 
We have now begun to kill the pigs and 
deliver the pork. There is good sale this 
year for small carcasses—whole or half. 
I find that people feel that they must 
figure close, and therefore are willing to 
buy a large piece of meat and risk keep¬ 
ing it. With a half a small pig they 
can have some fresh meat, a little head 
cheese, a small ham and shoulder, sau¬ 
sage and lard of their own making. We 
shall have no trouble in selling our pigs. 
This pork has cost very little. Since the 
pigs came in from pasture in the or¬ 
chards they have been fed on cabbage, 
boiled potatoes and turnips, thickened 
with bran, and the small nubbins of 
corn. I hey made fair growth on this 
feed. The meat is not fat, but well 
filled with lean. The hog is one of the 
best Hope Farmers—for business. . . . 
1 hen we have a good deal of spraying 
and pruning to do. I spent New Year’s 
day pruning the five-year-old apple and 
peach trees. I have never yet cut off 
the end of a twig or branch 
here and there where visitors 
to show me “how to do it.” 
simply clipped off the limbs 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
girls and let them read it. Before they 
were half way through they were clap¬ 
ping their hands and ready to dance their 
approval. No one could express their 
sentiments better. To my surprise 
Mother sided with them—I had sup¬ 
posed she was the mainstay of my cat 
legislation. \\ e have seven cats of all 
colors, ages and sizes. They spend most 
of their time hanging about the door. 
One or two of them hunt in the barn for 
rats and mice, but most of them, with an 
instinct copied from a large proportion 
. of human beings, are content to hang 
about waiting for the women folks to 
care for them. The fact that there are 
always soft-hearted girls and women to 
provide for such handsome drones has 
ever been one of the ruling forces of 
society. I felt that some one at Hope 
Farm should play the part of Spartan 
father, and so I sought my office, know¬ 
ing that the members of my family 
would keep the office from seeking me. 
“Grandmother's bird” hangs in his cage 
by a sunny window, and those cats have 
an eye on him every time they enter. 
I hen there is as much difference in the 
habits of cats as there is in people. I 
cannot believe that the little girls are 
great character builders yet. So I 
thought it best to teach these cats in¬ 
dustry by the heroic method. I am out¬ 
voted and overruled in my own house, 
being no match for the eloquent and im¬ 
pressive arguments of our friend. Her 
letter is a model of its kind. She has a 
story of wrong and injustice, speaks 
from conviction and appeals to the peo¬ 
ple who decide such things. I have an 
opinion about cats with scientific argu¬ 
ment to back it up, but I am outclassed 
before my audience. T shall have to wait 
until one of these cats makes a jump 
at Grandmothers bird and brings 
Mother back to my side. As I write one 
of the cats is purring contentedly in the 
little girl's lap. There is a look in his 
eye that I have seen before when people 
got the better of me. 
except 
wanted 
I have 
which 
others, 
grew inside or interfered with 
and let the tree shape its own head. 
-Most of the experts who see these trees 
do not like their shape, but I shall let 
them go. As for spraying, we were at 
it several days during the warm weather 
at the beginning of the year. There was 
a freeze at night, but during the day 
the sun was warm and bright, so we 
rigged up the sprayer and began putting 
on the oil 1 to 16. I am afraid of this 
warm weather. If it should keep up the 
peach buds will start and the “ice-making 
days” later will get them. I think the 
oil will help hold the buds back. At 
any rate, we save time by spraying 
now, and every hour counts in Spring. 
Comfort for Cats.—T his is what I 
get from a friend of kitty: 
On page 939 the Hope Farm man gives a 
very delightful description of a Winter 
evening at his home. After a first-class 
supper of good things he draws up to the 
tiro and prepares to rest and read. The 
lamp shines brightly, his daughter plays 
his favorite tune (a very tender one), his 
•log snores gently on the mat, and he is 
his most melting mood. He glances at 
window—the night is cold and dark¬ 
en each window sill sit a couple of c 
looking wistfully in. Now wouldn't 
think this good and kind man would 
them in at once to share his comfort? C 
do love a warm fireside. But no, unless 
•hey come in to catch rats and mice, they 
may not enter. He goes out to help his 
boys prepare a pond for skating, hut shuts 
the door carefully lest pussy should slip in. 
Eater in the evening he reads a sweet 
love story and feels at peace with all 
world as bedtime draws near. And 
the cats look in through the frosty panes. 
Once in a while they open their mouths 
to let out a faint “meow.” He thinks 
"How peaceful is the scene,” and lets them 
keep on looking in. Now. we think all this 
is very unfair. Would it have detracted 
anything from the beauty of the picture 
to have had a comfortable, well-fed old cat 
pr two curled up by the fire or on a cush¬ 
ion.' Would it not rather have completed 
H ? Cats pay their way in other w 
besides catching mice. Never mind if 
lurry old tabby does get up in you 
settle down between you and your news¬ 
paper, and purr contentedly, quite as if 
she belonged there. That’s the way she 
shows her affection and confidence. 
Wouldn't it. be mean not to meet her half 
way? We have two old cats that are 
honored members of the family, and, how- 
■ ver much we may respect the Hope Farm 
man and approve of many of his senti¬ 
ments, we should feel very badlv to h 
"" r pets fall into his hands to'freeze 
i jo window sill, looking in. whi'e hr 
' on.ghnuts and baked applet 
' he appealing strains of 
l ome.” 
\\ iTHouT a Country. —We have a 
room in our house called the “study.” 
-Many of our books are here. My desk 
stands at the center of the room and the 
children have little desks at the side. 
The sun pours in on sunny days. We 
do most of our reading and writing here, 
and suclt a room is headquarters for 
some of the best things about family life. 
I be children got an assortment of* little 
flags representing all nations, which they 
hung on a string across the ceiling. Then 
they fell to arguing which was the hand¬ 
somest flag. I hree of them argued for 
the American flag—the smaller boy 
found another that be thought hand¬ 
somer. I he other children were shocked, 
but I said nothing, knowing well that the 
beauty of what that flag stands for is 
not a part of education, but of nature 
and feeling. I have always insisted that 
my children must read Edward F.verett 
Males “Man Without a Country” again 
and again, until the true spirit of it gets 
to be a part of them. I have found this 
boy reading it over and over until he 
began to talk with me about it. One day 
1 looked over bis shoulder and found he 
was reading the account of those slaves 
who wanted to go home. No one could 
understand their lingo except poor Philip 
Nolan—“the man without a country”— 
with no home. He was obliged to listen 
to those slaves as they begged and prayed 
to be taken back to their own country 
and homes. M.y boy will not forget what 
Nolan said when 
fearful scene: : 
be got through that 
us 
in 
the 
•and 
■ats 
you 
let 
'ats 
old 
the 
still 
ays 
a 
lap, 
ave 
on 
ents 
ro 
or list 
[ome. Swot 
N. B. 
j • v N. K. P. 
1 iWPfW j-| pvq'rj jtjhe ljtljl.e. 
“Youngster, let that shozv you what 
it is to be without a family, without a 
home and without a country. And if 
you are ever tempted to say a word or 
do a thing that shall put a bar betzveen 
you and your family, your home and 
your country, pray God in his mercy to 
take you that instant home to his ozvn 
heaven.” 
I had forgotten about those little flags, 
but shortly after I glanced at them and 
found that the American flag had been 
taken from the string and fastened on 
the wall above all the rest. At the 
church as part of the Christmas exercises 
about, a dozen boys marched up, each 
carrying a different flag. Our boy car¬ 
ried the American flag, lie asked for 
the privilege. But what does all this 
amount to:' Some people will say I spend 
too much time at attempted poor preach¬ 
ing, and that there are more important 
things than sentiment. My conviction is 
that the Lord is very well able to man¬ 
age the large affairs of life. When men 
are needed to handle them they will be 
provided. To most of us is given the 
job of handling the little units of so¬ 
ciety. Unless these units are right the 
nig affairs cannot be right. Take care 
ot the units in farm homes, and T will 
r>sk the universe; I ll do my best to 
see that every unit that leaves Hope 
I 'arm can-iesjhe ^piripof that bopk w,ith 
util hi | ■ h I! H \s\ q.; I 
Digger Crops, 
Save Time—Save Yourself and 
Horses Work—Save Repairs, 
Trouble, Money. These are the 
thing’s you can do, as thousands 
of other farmers are doing, by 
using the guaranteed 
“Acme 
All Steel. 
Lightest 
Riding 
Harrow 
Built. 
Sizes 3 to 17 
feet. 
Pulveriz¬ 
ing Harrow, Clod 
Crusher and Leveler 
TRY IT FREE 
We want you to see what a fine, smooth seed 
bed it prepares, In all soils, under all conditions- 
How the knives cut through to the undersoil. 
dragging it^to Oi^surfaee. ° F ^ hUt DeW 
Our Free Book 
contains valuable articles by high authorities 
on the preparation of seed beds. Also tells ail 
about the “Acme.” Send postal for it today. 
Duane H. Nash, Inc., 
Box 38, Millington, N, J # 
All 
No. 9 
Wire 
A Fence 
of 
Big Wires 
>ney saver, it outlasts the 
little wire fence. 
Empire 
Freight 
Paid 
fence is alt big wires andallsteel. 
See the weave—how 
it ad justs for weather 
changes. Can’t slip, 
can t break, stands up straight 
in heat and cold. Longest lived 
fence made. Factory prices direct 
you. Get free samples. 
Bond Steel Post Company, 
Adrian. Mich. 
WIRE FENCE 
48-in. stock fence 
per rod only _ _ 
Best high carbon coiled steel 
spring wire. Catalogue ot 
fences, tools and supplies 
FREE. Buy direct at whole¬ 
sale. Write to-day. ; 
MASON FENCE CO., 
Box 07, Leesburg, O. 
29° 
ROD 
^BOOK 
IT PAYS TO 
SPRAY 
The Iron Age 4-row Sprayer 
gives perfect satisfaction. Puts solu¬ 
tion just where needed and in fog¬ 
like mist. Pumpdelivtrsspray under 
high pressure, thus reaching every - 
part ofvine, effectually kill -* 
ing bugs and preventing 
blight. Has Orchard 
bpraying attach 
ment. Write for 
free Catalog 
illustrating 
Sprayer 
and 
other 
Iron Age 
Tools. 
A postal brings 
it. write today. 
Iron Age 
Four Row Sprayer 
BATEMAN MFG.CO.,Box 102S,Gren!och, N.J. 
Illustrated ROOF BOOK, just off tho press, tells how to 
lay durable, water-proof, weather-proof aud fire-resisting 
roofs on residences,barns, cribs, poultry houses, outbuildin-s 
stores, etc. How to cover old shingle roofs. No tools necessary 
but a knife and a hammer. Tells all about the famous 
NO-TAR ROOFING 
^iich is better and cheaper than shingles, slate or tin. 
fire - resisting: and acid-proof. 
Contains no tar but is made from asphalt and cannot drj out or run In the 
, flexible and ew8 y t0 la J- host dealers sell NO-TAR 
KUUriAO. bpccia nails and liquid cement FREE in every roll. 
FREE SAMPLES TO TEST Sp^^Vt^koIT. 
ING, we will tell you TEW WAYS TO TEST IT and PRO YE its superiority 
to any other rooting. 
DEALERS—Writo for our Rooflng-Buslness Promotion Plan. Address 
THE HEPPES CO M 3111 Fillmore St., Chicago 
You never saw a 
saw which saws 
like this saw saws 
Let Us Send You '-as 
Our Book. 
about prood wheels and prood wagons that will save 
> ou a lot ot work and moke you a lot of money—the 
ELECTRBC STEEL WHEELS 
- and the- 
ELECTRIC HANDY WAGON. 
By every teat, t hey are the best. More than one and 
sol< k . Spokes muted to the 
bub. Cun t work loose. A set of our wheels will 
make your old wagon new. Catalogue free, 
ELECTRIC WHEEL CO., Box p*t, Quincy, Ills, 
andlastsolong atime. 
Frame of heavy angle 
steel strongly 
braced—absolutely 
shake. Patented—adjust¬ 
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oil boxes, etc. We make these 
Appleton Wood Saws 
-and t we eS mal r e n a , ll m b Ple ,’ safe andsuccesssful 
!*»»•” gSfi»; iz\rd SnSs.aa 
^em n a e klthe r celeh?ated d mttk °*’ Tu * 15 A Day ’ 
HERO FRICTION FEED DRAG SAW 
grinders °f th , e F 80 goo,i - A,so feed 
APPLETON MANUFACTURING CO. 
27 Fargo Street _ Batavia. Ill.. U. s, A. 
Wheels 
WITH GROOVED TIRES 
4 in. wide. The Groove protects 
the heads of spokes from wear, 
which makes wheel good and 
strong till tire is worn out. We 
make plain tire wheels in other 
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any thimble skein or straight 
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of Steel Wheels and Low Down 
Handy Wagons. 
HAVANA METAL WHEEL CO., 
Box 17 Havana, HI. 
The 
World’s 
Standard 
for 20 
Years 
Saw Your Own Lumber 
We Set the Pace 
—.Others do the 
Best They 
Can 
A 15-year-old 
U boy can operate 
successfully. 
, Two hands cut 
1 5.000 feet per day. 
15.000 mills in use 
the world over. 
_ „ Variable Feed. Friction 
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'Miils d pu l ®f!l G o^ lln ? Engines, Portable Corn an.l Feed 
WTienll ‘ p Shingle Mills. Wood Saws and Water 
rteT a irn r m £f p ??£ n 1 (1 we pay the freight. * 
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SAMPLE 
A Every wire— 
—. . , . both strand and stay-No. u grange. 
Thickly galvanized. Best grade steel. We mail free sample i 
for inspection and test. A more substantial, stoek-resist- 
I ln fc>M 1 ? n ?: def y‘ n >? fence was never stapled to posts. We 
I pay freight on 40 rods. Write for book snowing 123 stvles 
I The BROWN FENCE & WIRE COT. Clef elan^.O. 
Ir° 35 crs: 
PER ROD 
DELIVERED. 
RIDER AND ERICSSON 
HOT AIR PUMPS 
SEND FOB GREATLY REDUCED PRICES 
Send stamp for ”C4” Catalogue to nearest office. 
RIDER-ERICSSON ENGINE 
35 Warren 8t., .New York, 
40 Dearborn St., Chicago* 
n i I 
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w 234 Craig St., West, Montreal, P. 
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Adiurgurn 911,’ Havana, Cuba. 
