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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 25, 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER’S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
Published weekly by the Rnral Publishing Company, 409 Pearl Street, New York, 
Herbert W. Collingwood, President and Editor, 
John J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dillon, Secretary. Mrs. E. T. Hoyle, Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR. 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.04, equal to 
8 s. 6 d., or 8*2 marks, or 10'e francs. Remit in money order, 
express order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates fiO cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for timi 
orders. References required for advertisers unknown to 
us; and cr.sk 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 trifling differences between subscribers and honest, respon¬ 
sible advertisers. Neither will wo be responsible for the debts of 
honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. Notice of the complaint 
must be sent to us v, itliin 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. 
* 
Some of the Congressmen seem to have picked up a 
new one. Instead of “careful consideration” they now 
promise to give careful study. It is progress from 
consideration to study, and an entire lifetime can be 
spent in studying without learning a thing! 
* 
We hope every farmer in New York will help 
push the Collin bill through the Legislature. This 
is the bill printed on page 329. It has been amended 
so as to prevent a commission man from selling goods 
to his relatives or partners, and thus playing a shell 
game on the shipper. The bill will help us in two 
ways. It will give us a chance to know just what 
becomes of our goods, and also give the figures to 
show who gets the 65 cents which drop out of the 
consumer’s dollar before it gets to a farmer. Do 
your best to help pass this bill. Get after your Sen¬ 
ator in particular. 
* 
The tobacco growers in Connecticut have long 
believed that for their crop vegetable forms of nitro¬ 
gen must be used. This has led to the use of cotton¬ 
seed meal in large quantities. Dr. E. H. Jenkins of 
the Connecticut Experiment Station says that nearly 
$ 120,000 worth of this meal was used in the State 
last year. Out of 157 samples 63 were found below 
the guarantee in nitrogen. The average price is $5 
per ton more than the previous year, while the per 
cent of nitrogen was less. The meal is largely adulter¬ 
ated, and the price has gone up until nitrogen in this 
form costs nearly 25 cents a pound. This is the 
limit, and growers should try other forms of nitrogen, 
like ground fish, dried blood or fine sheep manure. 
No use living on a tradition after it becomes a bank¬ 
rupt Do not burn money on the altar of prejudice! 
* 
What became of parcels post in the last Congress? 
It is hard to get at all the facts, but the following 
is what we understand happened: The postal bill 
contained an appropriation for $50,000 to make an 
experiment with parcels post on rural routes. This 
bill was held up until the last moment, when it could 
only be passed by “unanimous consent.” When, a 
few hours before Congress ended, the postal bill came 
up, Senator Bailey of Texas objected to this $50,000 
appropriation. There was no time for any debate— 
Senator Bailey had them in his power—and the 
parcels post scheme was thrown out. Of course no 
one except the gentleman from Texas knows just 
what influences worked this smart trick. Half a 
dozen things are mentioned—one guess is as good as 
another. The one sure thing is that Congress will 
never give us this privilege until we make them do it. 
Let us not be discouraged, but “Up and at ’em!” 
* 
It seemed impossible to arrange the hen vs. cow 
contest on satisfactory terms. We have, therefore, 
started two hen contests. Mr. W. J. Dougan of New 
Jersey has taken one pen of 10 Wyandotte hens and 
another of White Leghorns. They will be kept for 
one year, and careful records will be made showing 
what they produce and what is done with the eggs. 
This will compare the two breeds and show us just 
what the 10 hens will do. Mr. Dougan may feed and 
handle the hens to suit himself, and sell or hatch 
the eggs as he thinks best. He is under agreement 
not to sell any eggs or birds for breeding stock while 
the test is on. The hens are to be credited with the 
production of food value only—either as eggs or meat. 
In addition to this Mr. Geo. E. Walter, Jr., of Vir¬ 
ginia, will test a pen of Leghorns for one year. This 
pen includes “Queen Lily” whose picture and record 
we have printed, some of her daughters and one of 
her sons. These hens will be trap-nested and the 
suitable eggs used for hatching breeding stock. Of 
course this is “rank inbreeding,” but we shall all learn 
something from it aside from the earning power of 10 
hens kept for breeding purposes. We expect to print 
regular reports, which will be open for discussion. 
Now, if any of the cow men want to come in and 
keep a year’s record in a friendly way, they are 
welcome. 
* 
We are on record as saying that within 15 years 
the exports of nuts and fruits from this country will 
equal or surpass those of wheat. In 1901 nut and 
fruit exports reached $8,279,213. Last year this had 
risen to $23,023,586. Apples led with $5,456,000 worth 
of green and $1,847,000 worth of dried. We have 
hardly begun to ship apples abroad. On page 405 
are some figures of the German trade. The Germans 
like our apples and want more of them, but we must 
learn to handle and pack so as to suit our customers. 
Imports of fruit have also grown. In 1901 we im¬ 
ported about $ 20 , 000,000 worth. Last year the figures 
were $25,800,000 for fruits and $13,600,000 for nuts. 
You will see that the men who are urging nut culture 
know what they are about, for the demand for nuts 
is spreading every day. The heaviest imports are 
of bananas, of which $12,433,000 were imported last 
year. Some apple growers are beginning to get fright¬ 
ened over the great planting of orchards. With the 
possibilities of foreign trade and the poor supply for 
American consumers, we believe it is merely a ques¬ 
tion of distribution, for the demand is far ahead of 
supply. 
* 
What with champion hens and cows and gardens 
and potato diggers all at work turning out large 
records and big stories, there is likely to be a riot. 
Here is the exact language from one of our Massa¬ 
chusetts readers: 
The men over in Michigan are trying to see which can 
tell the biggest lie; it is no joke, they are liars, and the 
R. N.-Y. should not print such “guff.” w. u. Howard. 
Now, right in the same mail, and as it happened, 
from exactly the same town, came the following 
report: 
I have seen accounts at different times in different pub¬ 
lications about champion potato diggers, and about Stanley 
Garthe digging 105 bushels in one day of eight hours. 
I know of a man, Louis Colburn, who lived at that time 
in Mofflttsville, N. Y., who had to walk three miles to 
the farm where he was digging potatoes for Dennis Far¬ 
rell on Burnt Hill, and surely he could not easily walk 
that distance and work eight hours, especially in Octo¬ 
ber. In that time he dug 135 bushels. Another man 
wanted to duplicate that amount of bushels on the same 
farm, and I was the one who carried the potatoes in the 
cellar; he dug 125 bushels in one day. louis arnnott. 
In addition to this Mr. W. L. Hannah of Maine 
says he dug 127J4 bushels in 8 J -2 hours when he was 
50 years old—and “can do it again.” Mr. Hannah 
had three men to witness the job. As for these 
Michigan champions, the reports are made by 
reputable men who offer proof. Let it be plainly 
understood that The R. N.-Y. has no $12 hens or 
$ 1,000 cows or acres and we will not back one of our 
associates to dig over 40 bushels of potatoes per day. 
We recognize the fact that this is no evidence that 
such things are impossible. Some of these champions 
might come this Fall and dig the Hope Farm man’s 
crop by way of exercise! 
* 
The controversy over potash prices seems to have 
been called off for a time. The State Department is 
still negotiating with the German government, but 
will give out no statement of its plans. The potash 
wholesale buyers or fertilizer dealers wanted the 
United States Government to bring pressure upon 
Germany by enforcing the highest tariff rate upon 
German imported goods. They reasoned that Ger¬ 
many would give up her position- on the export tax 
on potash rather than go into a tariff war. It does 
not seem likely that President Taft would go to 
such an extreme with the controversy over Canadian 
ieciprocity on hand. The popular demand is for a 
iower tariff, not a tariff war, and we have seen little 
evidence that this Administration is particularly 
anxious to help farmers. We think our people should 
look for cheaper potash in the development of Ameri¬ 
can supplies. The United States Geological Survey 
shows that some of our American rocks contain from 
nine to over 16 per cent of potash. A patent has already 
been taken out for making this potash available by 
grinding and using a strong electric current. The 
green sand marls in New Jersey contain in some 
cases six per cent of potash and nearly three of phos¬ 
phoric acid. They were once used and might be used 
again. There are deposits of potash in Western 
lakes and deserts. Owens Lake in California is so 
strong in minerals that it is estimated its waters 
contain 8 , 000,000 tons of sulphate of potash. Mona 
Lake, covering S 5 p 2 square miles, has in its waters 
over 10 , 000,000 tons of muriate of potash. These 
supplies indicate that very likely potash deposits not 
unlike those known in Germany exist in parts of the 
country, such as Michigan, West Virginia and the 
Far West. The government should waste no time 
in searching for these deposits, and in testing the 
process for treating rock. Farmers need potash in 
their fertilizers, and it is a sin to compel them to pay 
high tribute for this necessary plant food if our own 
country can supply it. 
* 
On page 418 Mr. Axtell discusses the test of 
those Guernsey cows. He thinks they should not be 
expected to “come back” because: 
Y'our suggestion of retesting such cows is in my opinion 
quite impracticable. These cows have given the best part 
of their lives to the making of these records, and have 
been stimulated beyond further endurance. 
We think Mr. Axtell should hunt up a stronger 
argument. A search of the Guernsey records shows 
that more than 70 cows have been reteste?? and in 
the majority of cases they “came back” and exceeded 
their first trial. On page 418 you will see what 
Jersey cows have done. Now the nut of all this 
discussion is, How did that nine per cent of butter 
fat get into that milk? If the cow put it there, let 
her do it again. Granting that she could not repeat 
her record for weight of milk, let her give some more 
of this “liquid butter” in an open test where no 
possible question could be raised. 
* 
One of the most sensible statements regarding the 
proposed Canadian reciprocity is made by Henry 
Wallace of Iowa. After referring to the unfair 
proposition of making farm products free while manu¬ 
factured goods still retain the tariff, and stating what 
we all believe, that the country would be better off 
with a fair reduction of duties, Mr. Wallace says: 
The second objection is that it is evidently but the 
beginning of a series of reciprocity treaties in natural 
farm products. In fact, that is the assumption at Wash¬ 
ington. The next thing will be a treaty with Mexico, 
which will give us free cattle, free silver ore and free lead 
ore as well. The ultimate object is evidently to secure 
a similar treaty with Argentina. This would be deadly 
to the Western farmer for the reason that Argentina 
would be able to supply the entire Gulf and Atlantic 
Coast States with wheat, corn and frozen meat cheaper 
than they could be furnished by the farmer in the Mis¬ 
sissippi Valley. It is because this is the inevitable end 
that we oppose the reciprocity treaty. 
That is what we fear. The scheme appears to be 
to “reduce the cost of living” by cheapening food if 
possible. Then the argument to town and city work¬ 
men will be that if the tariff is kept on manufactured 
goods, wages can still be kept up, while the cost of 
food will be lowered. In all this scheming we can 
see nothing for the farmer except what he can cut 
out with his own scythe. 
BREVITIES. 
Remember that the germs of white diarrhoea are born 
in the egg. 
The way to “talk back” to the land is to give it the 
argument of care and manure. 
Now then, you who want that “fur-coated hen,” tell us 
what objection you have to the Iloudan. 
Concentrated lime-sulphur can. be used after standing 
a year or more, provided it stands the hydrometer test. 
“Your paper always receives my careful consideration.” 
That is a new way they have of using the Congressman’s 
cry. 
That prize spraying contest for Illinois—see page 405, is 
a good idea. The plan of a “contest” always interests 
people. 
Make a good bonfire of the old rubbish which accumu¬ 
lates around the buildings. It’s of no value—only an eye¬ 
sore. Burn it up. 
Now we are asked liow to break a cat of the bird- 
eating habit. Can it be done without breaking her neck? 
In 1908 a severe frost killed the apples in Western 
Nevada, and this practically cleaned out the Codling 
moth. 
She : “They say that an apple a day will keep the 
doctor away.” He: “Why stop there? An onion a day 
will keep everybody away.”— Tit-Bits. 
Under a new postal rate a package weighing 11 pounds 
can be sent by mail from any part of England to Abys¬ 
sinia for $1.09. To mail it 10 miles in this country would 
cost, $1.76. 
How many years can you safely plant corn in the 
same ground? If you use a cover crop and fertilize well 
you can keep it up until cutworms and corn smut become 
too bad. 
It pays to potter with vetch seed. In Massachusetts 
some growers brush the plants grown for seed as they 
would peas. This gives more seed—easier to save. The 
value of acclimated seed is such that it will pay to do 
almost anything to nurse* the first seed crop along. 
There seems to be no doubt that many dairymen in 
New York are.looking for a new basket to hold some of 
their eggs. They will not try to depend on cows alone, 
but will try an orchard, hens or fruit and vegetables on 
the side. These are milk dairymen who see the consum¬ 
er’s dollar going to the dealers. 
