1912. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
621 
The Bulging Spool. 
A reader sends a drawing of a spool 
from which the thread was unwound, 
shown in Fig. 232. It looked at first as 
if there was a fine length of thread, 
but when taken off a large proportion 
of “bulge” was revealed. This ranks 
with the strawberry box with the bot¬ 
tom tipped up and the hundred other 
mean tricks to compel customers to pay 
THE BULGE OF THE SPOOL. Fig, 232. 
for water, wind and “bulge.” It is 
through such tricks that millions go to 
the handlers through dimes and pennies 
that are taken from both producer and 
consumer. 
The reader who sent us this spool ex¬ 
presses his sentiments as follows: 
“1 have tried to draw a picture of a 
new-fashioned spool—at least it is the first 
seen like it. It had darning cotton on it. 
When full of course it looks all right, but 
you find out that you are paying a pretty 
fair price for wood when you see the empty 
spool.” G. E. p. 
Joints in Tiling. 
E. T. Elkins, IT. Va .—I ask for informa¬ 
tion on laying drain tiles. I wish to put in 
some this Spring. I have a pretty good 
fall. What is the best way to cover after 
being laid? There seems to be a sediment 
or silt which accumulates inside of the 
tile. There has been some tile laid about 
one-half mile from my place; they are 
(hoked up and they are taking them up. 
Some say to cover with straw. Will that 
do? I was thinking of using small stones 
at the joints. 
Ans. —There are occasional spots 
where we find it necessary to protect 
the joints of a drain from the slushy silt 
which is inclined to run in with the 
water, but there are numberless causes 
for the stoppage of drains. Poorly ex¬ 
ecuted work in correlating the grade 
line probably throws more drains out of 
commission than any other single fac¬ 
tor. After laying out the drains have 
your grader work to a range of targets 
(or gauge and line if preferred) and 
see to it that he makes the tile bed uni¬ 
form as prescribed by the method used. 
Many workmen are careless about this 
very important part of the work, and 
work is short-lived instead of the most 
permanent improvement a farm can 
have, as is the case when properly con¬ 
structed. 1 have engineered a good 
many miles of tile drains in my day 
(25 miles in 1911 alone) and if they are 
not all working it has never been re¬ 
ported. One drain on my own place, 
laid 11 years ago, has 12 rods through 
quicksand; we laid this on 2x4-inch 
scantling and blinded to a depth of 
six inches with the top soil, and used 
no other joint protection whatever, nor 
do I care for such covering as paper 
or straw, except in spots where there 
is a good deal of water flowing and a 
slushy silt is encountered; here we 
sometimes use hay or straw in a very 
thin layer under the tile as well as on 
top of them. Make close joints and 
don’t blind with fine sand or silty loam 
that slushes up and runs with the 
water, and it is very few places that 
will need anything over the joints of 
the drain more than the dirt that came 
out of the ditch. j. f. v. s. 
A Run In With Sharpers. 
Since The It. N.-Y. is resolutely exposing 
nil forms of imposture and deceit, perhaps 
some readers would also be interested in 
my experience with two rascals in San 
Francisco, on or near the ninth of last De¬ 
cember. At tlie Oakland ferry I took an 
electric car to the Southern Pacific Railroad 
Station, where I wished to leave my suit 
< ase for the few hours I was to stay in the 
city. On this car a stranger spoke to me, 
a young man of about 30, who looked like 
the traveler he pretended to be. lie in¬ 
formed me that he was from New Hamp¬ 
shire and a stranger, and suggested that 
we see the city together. I had no ob¬ 
jection. We took dinner at a restaurant, 
my new friend paying expenses. Then we 
took car to visit some point of interest. 
Golden Gate Park, if I remember rightly, 
but we found ourselves on the wrong car, 
after a bit. We then got off and my com¬ 
panion suggested that we ought to see 
where the big fire was, and we found by 
asking a passer-by that it was not far dis¬ 
tant. We reached a ciuiet street after a 
time, my companion appearing much inter¬ 
ested in the remains of the big lire, which 
are to be seen at various points. 
-Vfter a time a passer-by stopped us and 
asked us where a certain street was. We 
(old him we were strangers. We began to 
move away, but he attached himself to us 
telling us how he was from Arkansas, and 
speaking with a marked Southern accent. 
In short, he played tire part of a country 
greenhorn lost amidst dishonest relatives 
•'nd city sharpers with much skill and abil¬ 
ity. I was thus far completely taken in 
l y both of them, as the results will show. 
Our new friend showed us how he had been 
matching dollars with his city acquain¬ 
tances, who had won large sums from him, 
and my two companions were soon dis¬ 
cussing the science of matching coins; com¬ 
panion number one insisting that his prin¬ 
ciples were right, companion number two 
contradicting and wishing to settle the 
point by beginning the game. My first 
friend drew me aside and whispered that 
we ought to give him a lesson, that if we 
didn't he would lose all his money some¬ 
where, that we would win his money and 
then pay it back to him. The scheme re¬ 
quired three players. I took part, though 
very much against my will. At first 1 was 
prudent enough to use my friend’s money 
instead of my own, but finally I became 
interested in spite of myself and advanced 
.$20. But as soon as I saw the $20 circu¬ 
lating I experienced a sudden change of 
heart and saw that I was somewhat easy, 
to say the least. I began to “sass” them 
considerably and demanded my money back. 
They objected, and began to walk hastily 
away. I began to look about for assistance, 
when a postman hurried by. I shouted to 
him that two robbers had my money and 
asked him what to do. lie did not stop 
but said : “.Stick to them until they give it 
back.” My new friends were now hurry¬ 
ing away at a great rate, and I hurried, 
too, thinking that I needed them more than 
they needed me. They rushed into the 
basement of a house near by. I followed. 
They rushed out again. The man who had 
my money began to lose courage, when he 
saw my courage was now good, and he 
quickly returned my money, even asking 
me if I wanted some of his, too. I felt 
my own was enough, though 1 prayed that 
a policeman would come into view. My 
New Hampshire friend disappeared with 
marvelous rapidity. The other stood his 
ground, picked up a sharp stone, and said 
that he would lay my head open. I re¬ 
plied that I would see him in jail yet, 
thinking that I might scare him. i’hen 
we both retired, perhaps equally disgusted. 
This experience shows, I think, one form of 
imposture out of the many practised upon 
the man from the country by his city 
brother. f. p. w. 
Vermont. 
THE NEW YORK FARMERS’ INSTITUTE. 
Farmers’ institutes of New York State 
are much as they were a number of years 
ago. It was said then that some change 
was needed to make them more efficient 
and to bring them into closer sympathy 
with the farmer. Commissioner Pearson 
did much to bring the whole State Depart¬ 
ment into contact with the common farmer, 
including the institute work. For all that 
I am informed that the new Commissioner, 
Calvin J. Iluson, is inclined to the opinion 
that something more is needed to bring the 
institutes to those that need them most. 
Someone has suggested that the localities 
that have never had institutes are the ones 
that ought to be considered first, and it is 
understood that the Commissioner is in 
sympathy with this idea. For a few years 
the institutes have been placed by means 
of conferences held in each county. These 
conferences are composed of former local 
correspondents, presidents of organizations 
and masters of Granges. If a locality had 
no local organization and had not been 
favored with an institute the previous year, 
it had no way of getting an official hearing 
at the conference. If they hadn't life 
enough to form some sort of an organiza¬ 
tion it was thought best to let them die. 
It might be interesting to notice how 
the institutes have run as to numbers, 
etc. In 1908-9 there were institutes; 
1909-10, 2!).'.; 1910-11, 340; 1911-12, 400. 
The total attendance for these same years 
lias been as follows: 182,500, 131,000, 
128,000, 110.000. This shows a gradual 
falling off in attendance in spite of the 
increase in the number of institutes. If 
we consider the average attendance per 
session the result is as follows for the 
years mentioned: "• 33, 123, 107, 97. It is 
understood that the total attendance is 
found by making a count each session and 
adding the counts together. The large 
numbers do not represent the different in¬ 
dividuals in attendance. That number 
must be very much less. The average num¬ 
ber of sessions held at each place seems 
to figure three, or very near it. While not 
familiar enough with institute affairs to 
make any general conclusions, it would 
seem to me that the number of farmers 
who may have attended institutes during 
the past year may have numbered 50,000. 
I suppose this is one in 10. 
Among the various plans that have been 
suggested to got a better farm representa¬ 
tion is tlie following: The various insti¬ 
tute conductors have a very general ac¬ 
quaintance in their respective territories. 
From this acquaintance it would be com¬ 
paratively easy to .ascertain the names of 
farmers in every town who might be in¬ 
terested in institute affairs. These men 
would then be notified and invited to at¬ 
tend tlie conferences. Thus every town 
might be able to be heard. Then would fol¬ 
low the question of taking the institute 
to tlie towns that are situated away from 
the railway, and are not at all in touch 
with the institutes. Some of the best meet¬ 
ings are held in the so-called back towns. 
More of them might be held, and in many 
cases such could be reached best in the 
late Summer. This would apply to the 
dairy regions, and perhaps to some others, 
but not to the fruit sections. Late Sum¬ 
mer and Fall institutes in these localities 
would be out of the question 
There is one other item that I have 
heard farmers discuss a little and that is 
the cost of the institutes. The amount is 
not regarded as excessive as far as I hear, 
although farmers do not consider them¬ 
selves well enough informed to judge of the 
proper expenditure. Many times speakers 
are obtained from the State college, the 
experiment station and the department of 
agriculture, and it is stated that these do 
not cost as do tlie other speakers. Novv 
it is very desirable that these men should 
be heard, but they draw pay from some¬ 
where. The suggestion is offered that the 
cost of these men to tin* State ought to be 
noted as a part of the cost of the insti¬ 
tute work. So far as I can see it really 
makes no difference. The State pays the 
bill in one way or another, and there is no 
probability that any duplicate bills aro 
allowed. It is only a question of bookkeep¬ 
ing anyway. h. h. lyox. 
1 
~i 
This is the farm house of the Long Island R. R. Agricultural Development 
Station at Medford, L. /., N. Y., stained with 
Cabot’s Creosote Stains 
and this is what the Director says about it. 
“ Our newly erected farm homestead has a shingled roof stained 
with your stain similar in color to your moss-green cement stain, 
while the body of the house, also shingled, is very much like your 
Quaker Gray (cement stain). This coloring has created no end 
of favorable comment, and many have been pleased to find that 
it was Cabot’s Stain did it.” 
H. B. Fuller, Director Agriculture Development. 
Cabot’s Creosote Stains are the ideal colorings for farm buildings, being 
cheaper, more sanitary and vastly more preservative than paint. You know 
that paint costs more than ever before (or is poorer in quality), while these 
stains cost less than half as much as paint, and can be applied by anyone 
twice as fast, using a broad, flat brush or a spraying machine. They are 
made with the strongest and finest unfading pigments, ground in linseed oil, 
and their liquid vehicle is refined Creosote, ‘‘the best wood preservative 
known.” They sink into the wood and give deep, rich coloring effects that 
are much handsomer than paint, and the Creosote not only thoroughly 
preserves the wood, but also destroys all germs, insects and parasites and 
makes tlie whole building wholesome. 
Send for samples of stained wood ( free ) and catalogue with full information 
Samuel Cabot, Inc., Chemists'" 21 Batterymarch St. 
BOSTON, MASS. 
Agents alt over the countiy. A Iso, Conservo Wood Preservative,for Posts, Sills, Planking , etc . 
My Big Free Display Vehicle 
Book Gives You Hundreds ©f 
Styles to Select a Buggy From 
I N THIS Book, I show you more buggies in different styles than you can 
see from 25 retail dealers’ stores. 
Thousands of people buy from me, because they can get a better stylo 
vehicle to suit tlicir ideas, and at the same time save big money by buying 
direct from me, tlie manufacturer. 
I have been in business 12 years. From a small beginning, making to 
order only a few hundred vehicles the first year, I have grown to be the 
largest maker of buggies and carriages in the world. 
My business is a personal, man to man, face to face business. Through 
my catalog you come into my factory, pick out what you want, have it made 
to order, and buy at wholesale prices on 30 days’ fiee trial. 
Don’t take any stock in wliat manufacturers, selling to jobbers through 
dealers, say about mail order houses. I am cutting into their business— 
the shoe pinches—that is why they are setting up the howl. 
SPLIT HICKORY 
Made to Order, Sold on 30 Days’ 
Why not bo fair to yourself and to me and Investigate before 
you buy a buggy of any kind. It only takes a day or two to 
get tnls big showroom catalog of mine that I have written my¬ 
self, which tells you more about my trade-mark vehicles for 
every purpose than I can tell In an advertisement. Justa postal 
will bring the book at once. Wait two or three days, get the 
book, see my styles, read my fair plan of selling, compare my 
prices—and then decide where you will buy. 
150 000 Peonle h ave already made tlieso comparisons 
!_£. and are customers of mine. X am going 
to give better buggies at less money to 20,000 more buyers this 
year. Will you be one of them! Anyway, use your best judg¬ 
ment, without prejudice, and send for my free book. X will pay 
the postage—send It to you gladly. 
No other maker of high grade vehicles makes as fair an offer 
as I do. nor prices as low, considering the quality. Why not 
write me today for book and full particulars! 
H. C. PHELPS, President 
The Ohio Carriage Mfg. Co., Station 290, Columbus, Ohio 
VEHICLES 
Free Trial AT A PEra! ™ AT 
SAVES YOU BIG MONEY 
Two 
Years 
Guarantee^ 
BUSH and BOG PLOW-* 
Clark’s Reversible Bush and 
Bog Plow is just the tool 
to subdue baked soil, 
bogs or newly cloared 
forests or stump hind. 
Cuts a track 5 ft.wide, 
9 in. deep. Has eight 
24-inch cutlery steel 
disks. Turns the 
o a r th to or from 
stumps. Will kill any 
or plant that grows and leave land true 
and clear. Send for now book, ‘‘Intensive 
Cultivation.” It’s Free. 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO., 
839 Main St., Hl-irninim, Coun. 
bush 
[prevent damage to eggs, garden truck, truits, live stock| 
[on road to market. Make any wagon a spring wagon. Soon| 
[save cost—produce brings bigger prices— wagon lastsj 
[longer—horses benefited—thousands in use—“lay wagon| 
rides like auto" says one. Get a pairat dealers. 
If not at dealer’s write us. Insist on Harvey’s. 
40 sizes—fit any wagon—sustain any load to 
10,000 lbs. Catalog and fistful of proofs free. 
HARVEY SPRING CO.. 71617lh St., Racine, Wis. 
GUARANTEED 
THE FARMERS’ CEMENT TILE MACHINE 
Makes tile 3 to 8 inches in diam., 12)4 inches long. One man or boy operates it by hand 
or power. 500 tile per day by hand, 1,200 by power. Tile thoroughly cured by patent 
process. No tamping or use of pallets. This machine and tile used by Experiment Sta¬ 
tions of Agricultural Colleges and the U. S. Dept, of Agriculture. 6,000 farmers have 
doubled the yield of land by underdrainage, and saved 75% of cost by using our Machine. 
You can do the same. Save cost of hauling and breaking. Make perfect 
tile $3 to $5 per thousand. MACHINE SOLD DIRECT FROM FACTORY 
TO YOU. TEN PAYS’FREE TRIAL. SEND NOW for 36-page Illustrated 
Catalogue. Tells you about great benefits of underdrainage, how to take 
levels and get grades, make and lay your tile at low cost. 
FARMERS’ CEMENT TILE MACHINE CO.. - Box 604 . ST. JOHNS, MICH. 
