628 
THE RURAL? NBW-YORKER 
The Rural New-Yorker 
TEE BUSINESS FARMER’S PAPER 
A National Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Homes 
Eetahlixhed iszo 
Published weekly by the Rural Publishing Company, 409 Pearl St., New York 
Herbert W. Cobbing wood, President and Editor. 
Join J. ItlBBOJf, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dibbon, Secretary. Mrs. E. T. Roybk, Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union. $2.0|, equal to 8s. 6d.. er 
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order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter 
Advertising rates 80 cents per agate line—7 words, discount for time orders. 
References required for advertiser unknown to os ; and 
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“A SQUARE DEAL” 
We believe that every advertisement In this paper is backed by a respon¬ 
sible person. But. to nuike doubly sure we will make good any loss to paid 
subscriliers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler advertising in our 
columns, and any such swindler will be publiely exposed. We protect sub¬ 
scribers against rogues, but we do not guarantee to adjust trifling differences 
between subscribers and honest, responsible advertisers. Neither will we l>o 
responsinle 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 t tentioned Tub Rurab Nkw-Yorkkr 
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. 
* 
There is a whole lot of truth in John Gould's arti¬ 
cle on page 533. These men that he tells about are 
plain, everyday farmers who run a dairy for a living. 
You may see them peddling the milk from $500 cows 
or driving a manure spreader. Thus a man does not 
need to own a million dollars in order to produce such 
stock. The million would get in the way of such 
production. Any county or community where farmers 
will work together can work the same plan. They 
may take hen, horse, cow, sheep or hog, and breed 
from the best family until the animals are uniform 
and superior. Then buyers will come and do the rest. 
* 
Every year people come asking if preservatives can¬ 
not be used in the silo to advantage. Silage has been 
compared to canned fruit or vegetables, and the silo 
will not permit the high heating and airtight sealing 
which are given “canned goods.” We Rave heard of 
the use of charcoal and salt, but neither has been 
found worth while. Some experiments have been 
made with forcing steam into the silo and thoroughly 
cooking the silage. In most cases such cooking did 
not pay. The general conviction is that if well ma¬ 
tured corn is cut into an airtight silo, well packed 
down and left alone, it will take care of itself with¬ 
out the aid of preservative or steam. 
* 
Here seems to be a new one: 
There is a company that proposes to build a storage 
plant in a neighboring town for potatoes, if they can get 
acreage enough promised, agreeing to give the Chicago 
wholesale prices. Are these plants a success for the 
farmer? 
This seems a promoter’s scheme, like a creamery or 
a canning factory. In most of such propositions the 
building costs the farmers far more than it is worth. 
The chances are that these potato farmers can com¬ 
bine and put up the building themselves to far better 
advantage than an outsider can do it for them. We do 
not see how a farmer will he benefited by helping 
build such a storage. It looks on its face like a 
creamery shark proposition. 
* 
Dr. Raymond A. Pearson, formerly New York 
State Commissioner of Agriculture, has accepted the 
presidency of the State College of Agriculture and 
Mechanic Arts at Ames, Iowa. This college has a 
magnificent plant and glorious opportunities for future 
usefulness and power. Iowa is a great agricultural 
State, and in this age when farming is rapidly chang¬ 
ing both in itself and in what is forced upon it by 
other industries the wisest Iowans must realize the 
need of importing men and ideas from the older parts 
of the country. They have done wisely in selecting 
Dr. Pearson. He has made good as an educator and 
as an executive and will carry the best Eastern agri¬ 
cultural thought to the upper Mississippi Valley, where 
we hope he may have many years of usefulness. 
* 
There has been a hot fight over oleo—mostly in 
committees of the present Congress. The oleo people 
tried to remove all tax from colored oleo, and to 
permit color to be used. The dairymen were willing 
to reduce the tax on the colored product, but they 
fought for the principle that yellow is the national 
distinctive color of butter, that it does not belong to 
substitute fats, and that its free and unlimited use to 
counterfeit butter must remain illegal. The oleo men 
settled upon the Lever hill as what they wanted, and 
there was a great battle before the agricultural com¬ 
mittee. The butter men won a temporary victory, for 
this committee voted to postpone all oleo legislation 
until next December. Then the fight will come up 
again. The fact is the present Congress is doing little 
beside playing for political advantage. It is doubtful 
if the Democrats would permit an adverse vote against 
the tax on oleo, even if they knew there was such a 
majority. They understand that most of the oleo vote 
will come from the Southern States and large North¬ 
ern cities. Few things would give greater offense 
to the country voters of the North. Therefore the 
vote will be called off until after election. The most 
remarkable thing connected with industrial politics in 
this country is the fact that Southern Congressmen 
wish to break down the dairy industry. No section 
in the land would he so helped by dairying, yet these 
men persist in supporting a counterfeit product. Why 
do they do so? 
* 
Oh, how the farmers did plaster their Congress¬ 
men with stamps for parcels post! Dozens of men 
who had “careful consideration” fastened to them like 
a third arm have actually cut it off. We want no 
further evidence of the power of the postage stamp 
than letters from the two Ohio Senators. Here is a 
circular from Senator Pomerene: 
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: 
In view of the vast number of letters I am receiving on 
the subject of parcels post it is a physical impossibility 
to write personally to each one who has been kind enough 
to address me on the subject, much as I would like to do 
so. 1 desire to say, however, that I favor the parcels post, 
and will do everything within my power to hasten the 
necessary legislation. Very truly, 
atlee pomeuexe. 
Well, it concerns every fanner in Ohio and they 
will look for results to see how much power Mr. 
Pomerene has. And here is Senator Burton: 
My Dear Sir:—I'take pleasure in acknowledging receipt 
of your letter and wish to inform you tiiat I am in favor 
of establishing a parcels post. The enormous volume of 
correspondence passing through this office makes it impos¬ 
sible to reply to each communication with a personal letter. 
Very truly yours, 
T. E. BURTON. 
You see the Ohio farmers wrote these gentlemen 
to a standstill, and they are willing to admit it. But 
do not let them rest here. Keep right after them 
and make them not only favor parcels post but get 
up and work for it. 
* 
As will be seen on page 529, the larger proportion of 
the Democrats who give their choice for next Presi¬ 
dent prefer Mr. Bryan. If he were an avowed candi¬ 
date we are satisfied that a large majority would be 
for him. One of our correspondents says that Mr. 
Bryan has the largest personal following of any 
American. We are convinced that this is right, and 
we shall not he surprised if he is again nominated. 
Naturally the action of the Democratic convention 
will be determined largely by the-platform and candi¬ 
dates of the Republicans. One party will stand for a 
“conservative” policy and the other will naturally take 
the opposite ground. Should the “progressives” con¬ 
trol the Republican party it appears as if the Demo¬ 
crats would select a candidate like Mr. Harmon. On 
the other hand, should Mr. Taft be renominated on a 
“wise and conservative legislative” platform the re¬ 
nomination of Mr. Bryan is quite possible. Next to 
him in popular choice is Governor Wilson, hut both 
he and Mr. Bryan are likely to he opposed by the so- 
called “leaders.” The sure thing revealed by our can¬ 
vass is that the independent or progressive movement 
in both parties is essentially one of country people, 
as was the anti-slavery movement which split both 
tne old parties before the Civil War. We have no 
object in view except a desire to give, without preju¬ 
dice or favor, the honest political wishes of our far¬ 
mers. The wisdom of organizing a farmer’s politi¬ 
cal party is doubtful, but the farmers should have a 
chance to tell clearly what they want in men and 
measures. 
* 
We have the following from a friend who says he 
wants us to understand all sides and parts of Dr. 
Wiley’s connection with the pure food bureau: 
A great deal of the trouble in the Department has been 
due to President Roosevelt rather than to President Taft 
or Secretary Wilson. Under the Roosevelt administration, 
when the question came up which called for a decision 
from the President vindicating Dr. Wiley or turning him 
down, the President temporized by appointing an associate 
chief of the Bureau of Chemistry to be sort of a spy upon 
and curb on Dr. Wiley’s efforts. This of course was all 
wrong. Again in another pinch, the President suggested 
the Remsen Board, and again Secretary Wilson was obliged 
to carry out the President’s suggestion. Much of the trou¬ 
ble from the pure food law has come directly or indirectly 
from these two movements; the result of which President 
Taft inherited from his predecessor, and Secretary Wilson 
was compelled to put up with. 
We have other letters from friends who say they 
know “something about the inside workings,” hut 
they do not turn this “inside” out to prove anything. 
We do not care so much whether these things were 
April 20, 
“inherited by President Taft” or not. We want to 
know what the President and Mr. Wilson have done 
with their inheritance. Here is part of Dr. Wiley’s 
statement on resigning: 
For nearly six years I have been conscious of an official 
environment which has been essentially inhospitable. I 
saw the fundamental principles of the Food and Drugs 
Act, as they appeared to me, one by one paralyzed or dis¬ 
credited. Interest after interest, engaged in what the 
Bureau of Chemistry found to be the manufacture of mis¬ 
branded or adulterated foods and drugs, made an appeal to 
escape appearing in court to defend their practices. Various 
methods were employed to secure this end, many of which 
were successful. One by one I found that the activities 
pertaining to the Bureau of Chemistry were restricted and 
various forms of manipulated food products were with¬ 
drawn from its consideration and referred either to other 
bodies not contemplated by the law or directly relieved 
from further control. 
In company with a great majority of the American 
people we believe this is true. As steadily and as re¬ 
lentlessly as fate, strong powers have been organized 
and directed to hamper the work of the pure food 
bureau. The food snides and poisoners, the drug 
fakers and whisky dealers have pulled the wires which 
finally worked Dr. Wiley away from his post. Some¬ 
body gave these people sympathy, if not direct help. 
The fact that all through these controversies Secre¬ 
tary Wilson has represented one policy and Dr. Wiley 
another is enough for the people to put the blame 
where it belongs. The folly of retaining Mr. Wilson 
in office for these past few years is apparent to every¬ 
body, and President Taft must stand for it. 
* 
For centuries—ever since water began to be used 
for power—inventors have looked with longing eyes 
upon the sea. The power of the ocean tide and wave 
can hardly he computed. From Maine to Florida the 
Atlantic hammers the coast with a fearful power. If 
even a small part of this could be harnessed and sent 
back into the country the monopoly of coal and steam 
would be broken. No “combine” could corner the 
Atlantic as is threatened with our river water powers. 
Many experiments have been made with tide pumps 
and wheels, but most of them seem to be playthings. 
Now, however, a German engineer comes with an 
improved water ram which may mean the beginning 
of mastery of ocean power. Consul R. F. Skinner, of 
Hamburg, describes this machine. In the original 
ram, power was obtained through the principle 
of the “water hammer.” The inventor of this new 
device 
Instead of battering or hammering valves, provided a 
revolving valve that brings the power water in regular 
turns in connection with the discharge conduits. This 
device is called the hydropulsor. When the entering of 
power water reached its utmost velocity of flow the re¬ 
volving valve makes a turn, thus bringing the impulse of 
the power water to bear on the water standing in the 
discharge conduit, lifting it beyond its level and causing it 
to overflow at the orifice. Owing to the work thus per¬ 
formed the pressure at the intake subsides, thus causing 
tne revolving valve to make another turn, whereupon the 
pressure water flows in a second time, accomplishing a 
new acceleration and a repetition of the former processes, 
which is renewed indefinitely. 
This device may fail to accomplish all that is 
claimed for it, yet we have long believed that the 
future is to give us new mastery of the ocean. Few 
realize what this will mean. This mighty power dis¬ 
tributed cheaply through the country will mean an 
industrial revolution. One reason why farms were 
deserted is because power was concentrated in the 
city, convenient to fuel supplies or a running stream. 
Break up this concentration of power, and industry 
returns more and more to the country. And the ocean 
is the world’s great storehouse for plant food. All 
through the ages great stores of nitrogen, potash, 
phosphoric acid and lime and all the rest have washed 
out of the soil and hurried to the ocean. It is there 
now only waiting for cheaper power to bring it forth 
for the farmer’s need. Harness the wave and tide and 
the sea gives up its dead capital that the farmer may 
turn it into life. This power and plant food will 
mean industrial freedom to millions of our people, 
and give greater value to the strip of land within 150 
miles of the ocean. 
BREVITIES. 
The low-down tree for high-up results. 
Many a Penu. farm home would hardly seem complete 
without the “mother” apple. 
Who knows whether ground limestone put in the soil 
when we plant potatoes will increase scab?' We know 
burnt lime will do this, but what about the limestone? 
“Read the enclosed article and consign it to the waste 
basket or the contributors’ heaven, the composing room,” 
says S. B. Yet, sleep in the former place will escape the 
printer’s devil. 
Two things have combined to depress the market for 
American ginseng—the Chinese revolution and heavy im¬ 
ports from Japan. Consul Wilder reports that wild roots 
are worth 30 per. cent more than cultivated. 
