1911 
THE RURAL, NEW-VOKKER 
l^S 
A “BACK TO THE LAND” MAN. 
D. N. B., Kingston, l‘a.- A man has pur¬ 
chased a small farm (25 acres) and has paid 
within $350 of the purchase price. Such 
conditions have arisen in the past three 
years that he has been unable to make fur¬ 
ther payments on the balance, and no better 
prospects for the future in his present busi¬ 
ness, and therefore is thinking seriously of 
making a venture on the farm. He has 
not had much practical experience, never 
turning a furrow in his life, but understands 
the planting and cultivation of almost all 
truck products that can be grown in this 
section, as he has done a little on a small 
scale. He has also for the past nine years 
been reading on the scientific side, learning 
from the same how to mix fertilizers on any 
basis desired, and also spraying, etc. The 
farm is not in a good state of cultivation, 
but responds to a very little fertilizer, yet 
is not in shape for trucking to any extent 
the first year. There is a swamp of several 
acres on the place that possibly can be 
drained, but not at present on account of 
means. Possibly an acre or two along the 
edge can be worked if ditched thoroughly, 
but that cannot be relied on the first Sum¬ 
mer, unless possibly some late celery could 
be placed on part of it. The question is, 
whether by going In debt about $200 more 
would three or four good cows do the sus¬ 
taining act along with the little truck that 
could be raised until the land could be put 
in shape for the following year. Grain 
would have to be bought, the roughage be¬ 
ing raised. Would butter or milk pay the 
best, cows chosen accordingly? Butter al¬ 
ways brings from 25 to 40 cents a pound 
retail, and milk three and four cents a 
quart, wholesale. The farm is located not 
quite a mile from a lake that is populated in 
the Summer by moneyed people, and is a 
good market. There are about 10 acres, 
not including swamp, that will raise almost 
any truck, including melons. 
Ans. —It will be possible for some men 
to make good under such conditions, 
while others would certainly fail. Thus 
it depends on the man and his family, 
and no general opinion would be worth 
the paper it was written on—unless we 
could see the men and talk with him. On 
such a farm, with economy and hard 
work, it would be possible to start and 
live, but it would be a struggle for a 
strong man. With that local market 
milk retailed ought to pay, but at 
wholesale prices butter would pay bet¬ 
ter—leaving the skim-milk for feeding. 
Potatoes usually sell well in that lo¬ 
cality. Start first with a good garden 
and determine to get most of your food 
out of it. Start small fruits at once, 
and pick out one or two good crops 
which are fitted to your labor and skill. 
POINTS FOR THAT HEN WOMAN. 
The statement of the Massachusetts 
woman on page 16 is very interesting. 
But I do not think her test is quite fair 
to good birds, or even to the birds she 
has. Given a flock of 900, all sold ex¬ 
cept 154, is it not highly probable that 
the remaining 154, were the least desir¬ 
able members of the original flock? 
Should one expect the average amount of 
good work from them? Then, when 154 
can easily be cared for by one person, 
should the board of the owner, and 
two hired men, be charged to them? 
Now perhaps E. II. has more than three 
people to feed on $20 per week, and if 
so she will pardon me I am sure, when I 
say that it seems a bit expensive for 
three people. I think she will soon find 
that the food of 154 birds can be kept 
down to about $3.50 per week, with 
satisfactory results. The very heavy 
feeding during December, of which she 
speaks, cannot safely be kept up very 
long, especially if her birds belong to 
the American class. 
Just one more thing. During a six 
years’ experience with poultry and 
“help,” I have readied the conclusion 
that the combination is a poor one, un¬ 
less the owner is so placed that she can 
do the feeding herself, and give time 
each day to careful oversight of details. 
Otherwise she runs considerable risk of 
failure. Either the hens will grow fat 
and lazy from overfeeding, or she will 
suddenly find herself in the midst of an 
epidemic that might have been avoided, 
by the early removal of one or two sick 
birds. Or a brooder lid will be left open, 
in a pouring rain, and a promising lot 
of baby chicks drowned, as happened 
here. The person who feels the greatest 
interest in the birds, must do the feeding 
and take the responsibility. But E. H. 
was certainly wise in deciding not to im¬ 
port fresh birds (and fresh diseases), 
on her farm each Spring. Better the 
evils at hand, than unpleasant surprises. 
Albany Co., N. Y. c. c. fraleigh. 
I Built this Maxwell Especially 
for Farmers 
Top, wind shield, and gras lamps extra 
T AST year we sold 4,227 Maxwells to farmers. Think 
of it! This so stirred my enthusiasm that I resolved 
to design a car for farmers especially. One that would 
stand the hardships and terrific punishment of rough 
farm work, and yet stand up 365 days in the year. 
Typical Farmers* Car 
Operating a farm myself, I knew 
what was wanted. I knew the 
car must be substantially built 
of first-class materials. That it 
must be a big car, adaptable 
both for business and pleasure. 
That it must possess ample 
power. That it must possess 
simplicity and accessibility of 
parts. Above all, it must be a 
car of stylish lines and dignified 
appearance. Such a car I built. 
When I figured up manufactur¬ 
ing cost, to my great surprise I 
found that owing to the tre¬ 
mendous Maxwell facilities and 
output I could sell this car at 
the exceedingly low price of 
$950. Such car value was never 
before known. 
Not a City Car 
It doesn’t pay to sell a car built 
for city use—fine boulevards 
and macadam roads—telling 
the farmer it is the ideal car 
for the country. This policy 
may sell the first car, but never 
the second. 
Ask any Maxwell Owner 
Ask any Maxwell owner what 
it has cost him, saved him and 
produced for him. How it has 
saved his horses. How it has 
kept young men with their 
father on the farm because of 
its money-making possibilities. 
Ask h im how it compares in 
expense with horse-drawn 
vehicles — if it is a paying 
investment. 
Be My Gues t Call on the nearest Maxwell dealer. I have 
— --- - arranged for him to invite you and your 
family to ride in any Maxwell you select—at my expense. Be 
sure and try the Model AB — the new 16 H. P. Farmers’ 
Runabout at $600. Satisfy yourself that all Maxwells work 
alike—that they are equally reliable. The car will save you 
money, just as it has 40,726 other Maxwell owners. 
Here’s the Car 
you 
*ve waited 
for at a price 
you can afford. 
These Books 
Free 
Let me send you 
our latest cata¬ 
logue, new “Farm¬ 
ers’ Economy 
Booklet’’and other 
timely literature. I 
will gladly send you 
these books free— 
and no obligation. 
Write me today. A 
postal will do. Just 
say, “ Mail Books. ’ ’ 
/‘resident and 
General Manager 
SALE OP MAXWELLS TO DATE M AXWELL-BRISCOE MOTOR CO. 
Art Street, Tarrytown, N. Y. 
Sold to Nov. 30, 1910 
Sold during Dec. 1910 
Maxwells in use today 
- 40,176 
550 
- 40,726 
WATCH THE FIGURES GROW 
Licensed under Selden Patent 
Sawdust as Mulch. 
Would coarso white pine sawdust, left to 
the weather six or eight years, do as a 
mulch and Winter cover one or two inches 
thick on a strawberry bed? h. w. s. 
Billerica, Mass. 
The trouble with such material Is that 
It packs down over the. plants and may 
smother them. We have known forest 
leaves to mat down when damp and kill 
the plants. Coarse material like strawy 
manure, coarse straw or vines is best, 
ibis covering will hold the frost in the 
soil and still give the plants air. We 
have not found anything better than cow- 
pea or bean vines. We would not use this 
sawdust. 
Boston 
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Washington 
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Des Moines 
Albany 
Philadelphia 
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Columbus 
Minnea polis 
Bos Angeles 
Salt Bake City 
Syracuse 
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Indianapolis 
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San Francisco 
t 
