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THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER. 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes. 
Established 1850. 
PobUihed weekly by the Itnral Publishing Company, 409 Pearl Street, New York. 
Herbert W. Oollingwood, 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*2 francs. Remit in money order, 
express order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates 00 cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for tim< 
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 subseril>ers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler 
advertising in ourcolumns, and any such swindler will be publicly ex¬ 
posed. We protect suberibers against rogues, but we do not guarantee 
to adjust trifling 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 Tiie R. N.-Y. to progressive, 
intelligent farmers who do not now take it, we send it 
10 weeks for 30 cents for strictly introductory pur¬ 
poses. We depend on our old friends to make this 
known to neighbors and friends. 
* 
You will see that the hen men are coming forward 
to scratch those hen records apart. That is what we 
want, for a statement which will not bear analysis 
has no place in print. The hen is a good friend to 
humanity, but when you put nothing but guesses and 
speculation into a “system” she may play the part of 
siren to lead men to the rocks! We want the truth 
about hens. If we go outside the regular beaten path 
to get at it, so much the better for the truth. So all 
are invited to sail in with beak and claw to make those 
$9 and $12 hens look like 30 cents, if that is their real 
limit. The first report from Mr. Dougan is printed 
on page 480. Nothing remarkable about it. 
* 
We met a man the other day, who said farmers 
had received greater benefits from the Government 
than any other class in the country. When asked 
what these wonderful benefits were he said, “Educa¬ 
tion.” The fanner has colleges and experiment sta¬ 
tions and farmers’ institutes, and bulletins, while no 
other class has been so instructed and “pampered.” 
This man is a manufacturer of articles protected by 
both a patent and a tariff. “All right,” we said, “sup¬ 
pose we change. Let the Government give you ‘in¬ 
struction’—tell you how to run your business and take 
away every item of special privilege you have enjoyed 
and give farmers a chance to make the margin be¬ 
tween cost and sale which is made on your goods!” 
His answer was a quartette of expressive words: 
“Not on your life!” 
These other interests do not want public instruc¬ 
tion—they want privilege. 
* 
When the Interstate Commerce Commission refused 
to permit the railroads to advance rates it was claimed 
that the railroads would appeal. They have not done 
so, and are not likely to. They have no case. We 
think it was likely that these railroads expected that 
the Commission would reduce rates. Thus they de¬ 
manded an increase, figuring that the Commission 
would deny it, yet would not reduce at the same time. 
It was a shrewd move on their part. The Commission 
recently reduced passenger fares between Washington 
and certain points in Virginia. Those reductions were 
made on the basis of over-capitalization and the re¬ 
sults of this may he far-reaching in effect. If the 
same basis for fixing rates is used in other and larger 
cases the public will receive great benefit. A classic 
remark about the fate of the public was credited to an 
older Vanderbilt some years ago. The Interstate Com¬ 
merce Commission seems to be like a big reservoir 
behind which public opinion has been dammed until 
it has power to start the wheels of justice. 
* 
The last North Carolina Legislature provided for 
what is called county farm-life schools. There are 
to be as many as 10 of these schools started each 
year. A county may secure such a school by provid¬ 
ing not less than $25,000 for building and equipment, 
and $2,500 for maintenance. The State in such event 
will give $2,500 per year more. The school therefore 
will have at least $5,000 annually. These schools are 
to be located and managed by trustees, one member 
from each township in the county, and appointed by 
the county board of education. These schools are to 
teach agriculture and “farm life,” which we under¬ 
stand to be country living in its best sense, indoors 
and out. Very likely they will be conducted like a 
first-class farm, where boys can learn modern methods 
in a practical way, and also pick up something of the 
true spirit of agriculture. We believe that this legisla¬ 
tion will work out great things for the people of North 
Carolina. It is constructive in the best sense. These 
schools will become genuine headquarters for just the 
sort of work that the South needs. 
* 
We have had our say about Canadian reciprocity, 
and so far as we can learn this position is endorsed 
by the vast majority of our farmer readers. The 
farmers of this country do not want special privileges. 
They do want a fair deal and what other industries 
have—no more, no less. If Canadian farmers are to 
share our markets we should have an equal chance 
with Canadian farmers. This is not given by “reci¬ 
procity.” As Senator Cummins, of Iowa, puts it: 
If we put tlie farmer into free competition with Canada, 
common justice and common decency require that we shall 
buy in a market as free as that in which the Canadian 
farmer buys. To me it is a shocking perversion of a sa¬ 
cred principle to assert that the farmer shall suffer free 
competition in everything he sells and endure high pro¬ 
tection in everything he buys; and I now say that I in¬ 
tend to use all the power and influence I have to give 
the farmer the benefit of free trade with Canada in the 
chief things he must buy, at the same time and in the 
same instrument that imposes upon him free trade in the 
things lie produces for sale. 
Under “reciprocity” Canadian fanners could sell 
farm products freely in our cities and buy their sup¬ 
plies from England to better advantage than our 
fanners can. There is no organized industry in the 
country that would stand such injustice. Put the 
American fanner on even terms with the Canadian 
farmer and there would be little or no opposition to 
“reciprocity.” 
* 
The Alabama Legislature suggests a new way of 
getting after the tax dodgers. A bill containing the 
following passed the Alabama Senate by one vote: 
The tax assessor in order to make proper assessment, 
shall require each person, firm, association or corporation 
leaking a return to furnish or give under oath, the amou.n 
of insurance on all property, except household goods and 
kitchen furniture, so returned for taxation, for the previ¬ 
ous calendar year, or at any time during said year, and 
he shall have a right to demand a copy of the last inven¬ 
tory made of any property subject to taxation, and shall 
also by inquiry of persons believed to have knowledge of 
the same, inform himself as to the value of such property. 
It is not intended to assess the property at the face 
of the insurance. That would be absurd, since stocks, 
bonds, unimproved real estate and much personal 
property is never insured. It is doubtful if half the 
property in Alabama or most other States carries any 
insurance. At the same time an insurance policy gives 
cue good indication of what a man thinks his property 
is worth, and it would help in forming a fair estimate, 
supposing the assessment is to be fair to all. At the 
present time farmers and small real estate holders 
pay far more than their just proportion of taxes. The 
‘tax dodgers” escape because they can hide the evi¬ 
dence of their personal property, or refuse to state 
what their real estate is worth. It would be good 
leading to see their assessments printed side by side 
with their insurance policies! 
* 
The German parliament has passed a law based on 
the principle of taxing the “unearned increment” of 
land. Briefly stated this means the value of land 
which is contributed by the community or state. Sup¬ 
pose a man buys a farm as men have done for $2f) an 
acre. He works at it with good judgment, improves 
the soil and makes it produce twice as much 
as when he bought it. The population within 10 
miles of that farm, let us say, does not increase, yet 
the farm is worth twice as much, since it produces 
twice the crop. In such case the increased value has 
been earned as a result of the owner’s labor. Would 
it not be a form of injustice to compel that man to 
pay twice as much in taxes as he did before? On 
the other hand, suppose this man buys the farm on 
the chance that sooner or later a town or city will 
grow out in his direction. He does nothing to the 
land. It grows up into brush and weeds and produces 
nothing. Population increases until there is a demand 
for homes and the land which cost $20 sells at $200! 
Such cases are quite common near the large towns 
where the increased value of the land is not due in 
any way to the labor of the man. It is contributed 
by others who come in and settle nearby. This is 
called “unearned increment.” Some of the greatest 
and most dangerous fortunes in this country were 
started in just this way. The “head of the house” 
obtained government land hv gift or cheap land by 
purchase and simply held on to it. Population came 
to it. and brought great value which was absolutely 
unearned by the owner. In many cases the family is 
still drawing immense rents from this land, while pay¬ 
ing taxes on less than a quarter of its value. Now 
this German law is based on the theory that the great 
value of this property was given by society. There¬ 
fore society has a right to demand a share for its ex¬ 
April 8. 
penses. The plan started first in the German cities 
and has worked so well that it is now to be enforced 
throughout the Empire. The tax is graded, from 
where the unearned increase of value does not exceed 
10 per cent up to 30 per cent where the increase 
reaches 40 per cent. The revenues are divided half 
to the general government, 10 per cent to the state 
and 40 per cent to the community. Under such a 
scheme idle land would not pay, and speculation in 
“land booms” would be taxed off the market. The 
lax dodgers in the great cities would be forced to pay 
their fair share of taxes. As it is now the average 
farmer, with all his property in sight, is forced to pay 
far more than his share because he must earn his in¬ 
crease of land values, while the value of urban land 
is largelv unearned. What a commentary upon our 
boasted liberty when the old monarchies give their 
people parcels post and real land legislation while our 
so-called public servants hold us up. 
* 
About 15 years ago Prof. H. J. Wheeler’s experi¬ 
ments in the use of lime began to attract attention. 
Of course lime had been used for centuries with good 
results, but Wheeler’s elaborate and painstaking work- 
showed clearly why lime was needed and what soils 
snd crops responded to it. At first this excellent 
investigation did not meet with much favor from the 
scientific men. It was a case where practical farmers 
forced the scientists to take notice. Many farmers 
tried lime as directed, and were convinced that when 
properly used this element is practically as essential 
as nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid. The experi¬ 
ment stations took up the discussion, worked out 
experiments and issued many bulletins. The interest 
has grown until to-day the problem of using lime 
economically is one of the most important connected 
with American farming. Most farmers now under¬ 
stand the difference between ground limestone and 
the various forms of burned lime. Apparently the 
thing least understood is the best manner of apply¬ 
ing lime and the reasons for it. We still have many 
questions asking if it will pay best to plow the lime 
under or spread it on top of the grass or grain. In 
a general farm rotation the best place for lime is 
with a seeding of grass or grain, unless it is used 
directly to overcome the souring effect of plowing under 
a green crop. We would never put burned lime on 
the surface of the ground or plow it under. The way 
to use it is to spread on the furrows and harrow 
thoroughly into the soil. When this is not done the 
burned lime is likely to form a sort of thin mortar 
where it is put, and we lose the best effect of the 
liming, which is to work all through the soil and 
sweeten it. The theory that rains will wash the 
burned lime down all through the soil will not work 
out. On the other hand, ground limestone or marl 
put on the surface of meadows or pastures without 
plowing them will often give a slow but sure im¬ 
provement, for these raw limes will not act as the 
burned lime often does. For quick work, that is, 
rapid sweetening of very sour lands, any form of 
lime should be worked into the soil. One reason 
why seeding is the best place to use lime is the fact 
tfat a soil bed for small seeds must be worked until 
it is fine. 
BREVITIES. 
The skim-milk of human nature is mighty poor stuff. 
A concrete) top over that well will save danger from 
foul water. 
The trouble is that too many of us fight for our wrongs 
without realizing it. 
Now if you had that cover crop to plow under, even if 
it were nothing but rye! 
North Carolina will divide convicts into two classes. 
Those guilty of felony must wear stripes—others need not. 
Cut them down—both root and stem. What? The 
young trees. They will make a far better head to pay 
for it. 
IIaiuy vetch is not a Spring-sown crop. It is for the 
Fall—like Crimson clover. The legume for early Spring 
is Canada peas. 
We should hesitate to plant a chestnut orchard in the 
East. The fungus disease has ruined the woods around 
the Hope Farm, and we believe it will spread still further. 
Yes— we would certainly use about one-third the total 
weight of clover seed in Alsike. It does better than Red 
on damp or sour land, does not give such a large yield, 
but makes better feed. 
On stock farms where clover is largely grown the use 
of raw phosphate rock seems to be increasing. Where the 
soil is full of humus this rock gives results—but do not 
trust it for garden or truck crops. 
Test your corn ear by ear. or you may find too late, 
that you have a lot of seed like that described by Mr. 
Clement on page 402. The stalk and the ear show the size 
to the eye, but they do not show life. That is what you 
want. 
The Oregon Legislature has passed a law placing a 
heavy penalty on the shipment of ginseng stock or roots 
into that State from gardens in which disease prevails. 
It is claimed that the State will co-operate with the 
Federal Government to prohibit the circulation of adver¬ 
tisements of plants or seeds from diseased gardens. 
