1911. 
THE RURAt NEW-YORKER 
AN ICE CREAM FARM. 
Wanted—An ice cream maker at once; 
year-around position. Blue Ribbon Farms. 
—Daily paper. 
So there is such a farm as an ice 
cream farm. Yes, and a farm of 257 
acres where the sole output is ice cream. 
For years the proprietors had raised the 
usual crops of Columbia County. At 
last they become convinced that the 
only way to make more than a bare liv¬ 
ing was to specialize. Last Fall they 
built a reservoir in the path of a little 
spring-water stream from which they 
harvested 500 tons of ice. The icehouse 
and an 18x36 frame building were built 
at the same time. In the earlv Spring 
the frame house was fitted with an ice 
cream batch mixer of 75 gallons per 
hour capacity, an ice crusher, a cream 
separator, a six-horse power gasoline 
engine, a large cooking range, bins for 
salt, apartment for sugar and syrups, 
cans and tubs, and all was ready for 
the manufacture of a finished product. 
A canvass of the nearby towns, Lee, 
Stockbridge, Chatham. Ghent, and of 
the cities of Albany, Pittsfield, Hudson 
and Worchester had already shown that 
there would be no difficulty in disposing 
of pure ice cream at $1 per gallon, de¬ 
livery paid. Fortunately for the experi¬ 
ment the Summer thus far has been one 
long continued hot spell, and the de¬ 
mands upon the Blue Ribbon Farms far 
exceeded the expectation. Instead of 
the modest 50 gallons hoped for, the 
daily output has been 100, 150, and even 
200 gallons, and for the Fourth of July 
trade orders for 1,500 gallons were re¬ 
ceived and filled. An automobile deliv¬ 
ery wagon became necessary for nearby 
deliveries, but the trade in Albany, 
Hudson and Worcester was cared for 
by the express company. The farm’s 
herd of 26 Guernsey and Jersey grades 
was not sufficient to supply the cream 
necessary, and neighboring farmers were 
c alled upon to supply the deficiency. The 
farms expect next year, with an in¬ 
creased acreage, a larger herd, additional 
ice reservoirs, more machinery and a 
fairly hot season more than to double 
this year’s output. Then, too, they ex¬ 
pect to be in a position to make many 
of their own extracts from their own 
products of strawberries, raspberries, 
maple syrup, and the nuts from their 
woods. Only sugar, salt, vanilla and 
chocolate will have to be purchased— 
that is their hope. Has it paid? The 
owners reply: "Yes, in money returns; 
and not a single pound of manurial 
value has left the farm.” That certainly 
counts, for any system of farming that 
enables one to send forth a finished pro¬ 
duct without robbing the land of fer¬ 
tility is surely based upon sound prin¬ 
ciples. H. 
A MILK INSPECTOR’S WORK. 
Part II. 
The two farms that I was able to visit 
were criticized a little by some of the peo¬ 
ple whom 1 saw before going there. No one 
of the half dozen or more people with whom 
I talked upheld the inspector in the meth¬ 
ods he employed, nor did anyone think it at 
all necessary that the creamery be or¬ 
dered to refuse the milk from these dairies. 
These dairies were owned by Robert Utter 
and Monroe Dow. The former was scoi'ed 
at 41 at the first inspection and 54 at the 
later, the Dow premises were scored at 44 
at the first and 55 later. In neither case 
was any change made during the time, in 
stable or appliances, these men told me. 
It would not be fair to say that there was 
not any change whatever. Mrs. Dow was 
much more inclined to uphold the inspector 
than I am. She did not blame him, she 
said. Then she and Mr. Dow explained how 
the change came about. They were both 
away from home the day the inspector 
called, having started quite early to attend 
a funeral some eight or 10 miles away. 
Only a small boy was in charge, and he 
had been unable, up to the time the in¬ 
spector called, properly to clean the stable 
and get things into shape. There was no 
trouble with the milk, but according to 
certain rules of certain inexperienced in¬ 
dividuals, there was in the opinion of a 
tactless inspector ground for cutting down 
the score and subjecting these people to in¬ 
convenience and publicly administered cen¬ 
sure. At Mr. Utter’s stable I am inclined 
to think that conditions were better. There 
is a wide space behind his cows, however, 
and here had been tied some calves. So 
far as I can see there is no serious objec¬ 
tion to this, as there was no interference, one 
with the other. I would prefer not to have 
the calves there, but I cannot think that 
there was any less wholesome milk sold on 
account of them. It is thought by some 
that the presence of the calves may have 
been the cause of the unfavorable report. 
Assuming this to be true, a tactful or effi¬ 
cient man would have got along with the 
matter without antagonizing the farmer, 
and certainly without bringing the wrath 
of the community upon his own head. This 
truth has been illustrated in every one of 
the half dozen instances of discipline which 
this inspector has attempted to administer 
in the vicinity of Walton. I would have 
been glad to see the inspector and get his 
side of the story, but he was away, and I 
could not see him. 
My visit was some time after the inspec¬ 
tion, but I think I know how the stable 
appeared. I will attempt to describe the 
stable that I consider the worst, it is a 
“lean-to” stable, with haymow and silo in 
front of the cows. The stable is rather 
low, a tall man could no more than stand 
erect in it. The space behind the cows is 
sufficient for walking, but is not so wide as 
one might desire. Voidiugs are thrown out 
of window holes behind the cows into the 
open. There are not as many glass win¬ 
dows as most farmers would desire. There 
is nothing unsanitary so far as windows 
are concerned. There is no system of ven¬ 
tilation except that muslin curtains are 
used in Winter, as required by the Board 
of Health. The floors are of planks and so 
is the gutter, which is of moderate size. 
These floors are all laid solid, with dirt 
filling under them solid with the planks. 
Overhead is a floor that answers every pur¬ 
pose except the score card. Now in such 
a stable as that good milk can be produced, 
just as bad milk can be furnished from a 
stable costing hundreds of dollars for its 
equipment. It all depends upon the man. 
It takes more care to get good milk from 
a narrow crowded stable, but if the man is 
anxious to do it and is encouraged in his 
efforts by the creameryman or even by 
the inspector, he will do it. The milk 
house in this instance was very good. I 
have never been able to learn that any 
fault has been found with the milk from this 
farm. I would chance the milk there, es¬ 
pecially if the buyer of the milk were a 
man who will cooperate with his patrons 
in their efforts to furnish products of a 
high quality. The milk at this farm was 
ordered off for two days. 
The reader already has my idea of the 
inspection noted in this article. I may 
add that I was very reliably informed of 
other instances in the vicinity where two 
scores varying 30 points were made on dif¬ 
ferent days at the same farm by the same 
inspector, without a particle of change 
having been made in the premises. Such in¬ 
spection in a short time comes to be a 
farce. If the city insists on inspecting 
farm premises (which they should not do) 
they should adopt a different method of in¬ 
spection and procedure and should then 
send men who have knowledge, ability and 
tact for the work. Then the inspection 
should be done from a different standpoint 
from that at present in use. It should be 
for the purpose of improvement, by sug¬ 
gestion and consultation, and never, except 
in extreme cases should it be done with a 
policeman’s club. To enrage farmers over 
trivial matters means to get good care 
taken only by having a policeman at every 
farm, and keeping him there all the time. 
There is no trouble in getting good milk, 
and no trouble in interesting farmers in 
improving their stables and appliances to 
a reasonable degree, but sensible methods 
need be instituted for it and sensible men 
are needed to do the work. It is undoubt¬ 
edly the business of the Board of Health 
to insist that good wholesome milk be sold 
in the city, and to insist that it be properlv 
cared for by the purchaser. It is the busi¬ 
ness of the dealers to secure good milk and 
sell it. The whole thing is simple enough 
if the Board of Health will stay on its own 
grounds, and let the proper people attend 
to their part of the affair. J. x. 
013 
When you write advertisers mention THE 
R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and a 
“square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
Good Light 
makes night work easier. 
Rayo lanterns give the 
most light possible for 
the oil used. 
Rayo Lanterns will 
not blow or jar out. 
They are easy to clean. 
Easy to fill and light. 
Made to stand hard wear. 
You can get Rayo Lan¬ 
terns in various sizes, 
finishes and styles. Each 
is the best you 
can buy of its 
particular kind. 
All Rayo lanterns are 
equipped with selected Rayo 
globes, clear, red or green, 
as desired, and wicks are 
inserted in the burners, 
ready to light. 
Dealers everywhere ; or 
write for descriptive circular 
direct to any agency of the 
Standard Oil Company 
(Incorporated) 
I 7T) 17 17 this real leather bill fold 
XT 1 -tv J_-> \Jj for the Head of the Farm 
(Not for boys — they're all right and their turn 
will come later—but this is for the boss.) 
Thousands of farmers will buy gasoline engines this Fall. I want to 
get in direct and personal touch with every one of them, as I want 
them to know about the Olds Engine. 
If you are going to buy an engine, or are thinking about it., you ought to know what an 
Olds Engine will do for you. I want to tell you about them— 
give you just the information you want —so if you will fill out the 
coupon below (or write me a letter) saying what size engine you 
want, whether portable or stationary, and when you expect to need 
one, without asking you to make any promise or obligating you 
in any way, I will send you absolutely free this genuine calfskin 
bill fold, stamped with your name in gold letters. 
It will hold fifteen bills easily. When folded it will go in 
a small pocket. It is very convenient, handsome and useful; 
will last a lifetime. Has no advertisement on it. 
are known the world over and used by farmers everywhere. They are the most satis¬ 
factory engine made for farm work. 1 guarantee them to do all we say they will—you 
to be the judge. Ask any man who has an Olds Engine. He will tell you. 
rvi rvQ GASOLINE 
ULUj ENGINES 
We also make complete electric light and water systems especially for farms. 
Write for our prices on corn shelters, corn buskers, feed grinders and cream separators. 
If you are going to buy an engine, put a check mark (X) in the place showing the size and style 
engine you want, and when you expect to need it, and mail to me personally at once. Address me 
as below. 
BRANCHES 
1007 Farnam St. 
Omaha, Neb. 
2112 Central St. 
Kansas City, Mo. 
J. B. SEAGER, Gen. Mgr. 
Seager Engine Works 
908 Walnut St., Lansing, Mich. 
BRANCHES 
102 N. Los Angeles St. 
Los Angeles, CaL 
65C Beverly St. 
Boston, Mass. 
To make quick deliveries, I also have a complete stock of engines and parts in warehouses ax 
Houston, Tex. Atlanta, Ga. Decatur, III. Lexington, Miss. Cairo, Ill. Minneapolis, Minn. Binghamton, N.Y. Philadelphia, Pa. 
NOTICE—If you prefer, write to my nearest branch, and if I am not there, 
mj personal representative will attend to it. 
Cut or tear off here 
Send me full particulars about the following engine. It 
is understood that I do not obligate myself in any way by 
asking for this information. 
Style wanted : Portable 
Stationary 
Horse Power wanted: 
3 VA 6 8 12 15 20 
Expect to need it: Aug. 
N ame. 
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. 
Town. 
.R. F. D. 
County. 
.. State. 
Sign name plainly, just the way you want it on bill fold. 
908 
