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The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER 
A notional Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Ilomcs 
Established isso 
Published weekly by the Rural Publishing Company, 409 Pearl St., New York 
Herbert W. Collixgwood, President and Editor. 
Jons' J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wm. F. Dillon, Secretary. Mrs. E. T. Royle, Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION: ONE DOLLAR A YEAR 
To foreign countries in the Universal Postal Union, equal to 8s. 6d., or 
8>£ marks, or 10^ francs. Remit in money order, express 
order, personal check or hank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates 60 cents per agate line—7 words. Discount for time orders. 
References required for advertisers unknown to us ; and 
cash must accompany transient orders. 
“A SQUARE DEAL” 
We believe that everv advertisement in this paper is backed by a respon¬ 
sible person. But to make doubly sure we will make gooa any loss to paid 
subscribers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler advertising in our 
columns, and any such swindler will be publicly 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 be 
responsible for the debts of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. 
Notice of the complaint must be sent to ns within one month of the time of 
the transaction, and you must have mentioned The Rural New-Yorker 
when writing the advertiser. 
No doubt of it; the effect of lime upon potato scab 
has frightened many of our potato growers. Many 
of them farm in a short rotation. The grass and 
clover plainly show that lime is needed, yet these 
growers hesitate to use it, for they fear an increase 
of scab. The result is that the land suffers and loses 
its quality, while extra supplies of chemicals are 
needed for the potatoes. We need accurate and 
widespread experiments in the use of ground lime¬ 
stone on the clover or grass of a potato rotation. The 
burnt lime would be likely to increase scab, but the 
ground limestone ought to help the clover without 
hurting the potatoes which follow it. 
* 
No matter which party controls the next New 
York Legislature, we hope it will put a stop to the 
foolish and dishonest method of distributing the val¬ 
uable publications of the Geneva Experiment Station. 
Thus far the greater part of these books have been 
handled by members of the Legislature. We oppose 
this form of graft as we do the Government’s free 
seed distribution. It is worse, for the hooks are in 
demand and find their way into Albany bookstores 
where buyers are compelled to pay $5 or more for 
them. These books should be distributed direct from 
the Station under charge of the Director. The pres¬ 
ent method is a clear case of graft which should he 
cut out. 
* 
Tiie R. N.-Y. suggests voting for Clark Allis for Lieu¬ 
tenant-Governor of New York because be is a farmer. So 
is .Tames W. Wadsworth, Jr. Why does he not give 
farmers a chance to express their sentiments? j. h. l. 
We have no unkindly words for Mr. Wadsworth. 
His position is different from that of Mr. Allis. It 
is true that Mr. Wadsworth is a farmer, but his 
operations are of a class which cannot be said to 
represent fairly the great body of our New York 
farmers. It is more of the English system of agri- 
ture on ancestral acres. With no discredit to Mr. 
Wadsworth, he can hardly be said to represent 
farmers. That, however, is not the point we are mak¬ 
ing. Should Mr. Wadsworth run ahead of this ticket, 
such fact would not show any indication that our 
farmers wished to show their feeling. There might 
be a dozen reasons for such increase of votes. On 
the other hand should Mr. Allis poll any such in¬ 
crease the reason for it 'would be clear and unmis¬ 
takable. That is why we say that this year, the way 
for New York farmers to stand up and be counted 
for their own business is to vote for Clark Allis. 
* 
It strikes mo that the poor tenement dwellers, so 
graphically described in a recent magazine article, “At the 
Bottom.” are the ones that really need the help, and we 
independent, happy farmers can well afford to forego 
some luxuries, such as automobiles, etc., until they shall 
be made more comfortable. MRS. J. B. 
Oregon. 
First rate! But will our good friend go on and tell 
us how the independent farmers can help these tene¬ 
ment dwellers under existing conditions? How are 
the farmers to reach out and touch these people. Take 
milk producers for example. Milk is a necessary 
article in the tenements. It means life to' many a 
little child. The consumer must pay at least eight 
cents a quart for this milk, while the farmer will do 
well to obtain three as his share. This is what we 
call a 35-cent dollar, and it does not buy many 
luxuries. Suppose, as our friend indicates, the farmer 
“foregoes some luxuries”—(such as paying taxes or 
interest) and accepts 2 l / 2 cents per quart. Is our 
friend so simple-minded as to think that these tene¬ 
ment dwellers would receive this half-cent benefit? 
Possibly in Oregon, but not in New York. It is 
practically the same thing with potatoes. We have 
known this crop to sell at 20 cents a bushel at the 
farmers’ delivery point and again at one dollar at 
the same place. Yet the retail price of potatoes to 
the poor people here has varied but little. This 
<THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
t 
theory that demand and supply regulate the prices 
offered to the poor people of this city (or the well- 
to-do either) is a sad humbug. Demand and supply 
regulate the amount which the middlemen and 
handlers will get out of the crop. Their charges are 
mostly fixed and constant, and when we produce “two 
blades of grass” under existing conditions of distri¬ 
bution the large share goes to the handlers—the 
smaller end to the farmers. The way to help the 
consumer to better and cheaper food is to cut out 
enough middlemen to enable the farmer to get a 
fairer share. They will then quickly increase the 
supply. 
* 
The attempted assassination of Theodore Roose¬ 
velt has shocked and enraged the American people. 
Three of our Presidents have already been killed by 
half-crazed fanatics, and this last incident shows that 
no public man is safe from cranks who have argued 
themselves into the belief that when an official stands 
“in the way” he should be removed. What does this 
fearful work mean? Two things. The condition into 
which our public affairs and our public morals have 
been permitted to grow by the politicians is the funda¬ 
mental basis for the unrest now growing among our 
people. The old hide-bound cynical “conservative” 
policies and arguments of the men who control our 
financial affairs have without question embittered thou¬ 
sands or millions of working people. There are a 
dozen ways in which oppression has been felt—the 
liquor industry, monopolistic control of land or of food, 
and legislation poisoned by “jokers” which always rob 
the poor of their rights. Back of it all is the convic¬ 
tion that both the present old parties are at heart 
controlled by the money power of the country. This 
unrest has been fanned into flame by violent and 
cowardly personal abuse of public men. The great 
daily papers have attacked Mr. Roosevelt with a lying 
ferocity which could not help breed murderous 
thoughts. They have distorted his words and his 
theories in the most brutal and cowardly way. The 
Socialists and, we regret to say it, the Prohibitionists 
and some other minor groups have joined in this 
chorus of fearful personal abuse. It has all helped to 
load the pistol from which the assassin’s bullet was 
fired. In our discussion of Presidential candidates 
we tried to obtain calm and fair statements from 
Socialists. With two exception out of many the let¬ 
ters were simply filled with the most bitter and 
hideous personal abuse which we could not print. 
This intemperate and hateful form of so-called argu¬ 
ment is largely responsible for the “cranks” who at¬ 
tempt J:o kill our public men. The political result of 
this attempt at murder ought to be the election of 
Mr. Roosevelt. There were thousands of men in this 
country who frankly said that they did not know 
how to vote in this mixed-up campaign. Many of 
them would not have voted at all. That bullet has 
struck something in them which forces a new issue 
and they have decided. It is hard for us to see how 
so many intelligent men lack the vision to see what 
is coming in this country. If the cynical government 
of the old parties is to continue nothing can stop the 
wave of Socialism which will assume its worst form 
the faster it grows. It will grow faster and faster 
because the plain people will see no hope for the 
things they desire in any continuation of boss-ridden 
and “conservative” government. The Progressive 
party offers progress—not the radical intemperance of 
the extremists, but a fair beginning along the road 
which our people desire to travel. The election of 
Mr. Roosevelt will satisfy the vast majority of our 
radical element and stop the growth of rabid Socialism 
as nothing else would. The leaders among that rabid 
element see this, and it is why they attack him so 
bitterly. That bullet has simply cleared the issue for 
thousands of us. 
* 
Where are now the complacent gentlemen who 
used to tell us the science of feeding crops had be¬ 
come fixed? At one time they were sure that ade¬ 
quate supplies of nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid 
would settle the matter—it was merely a matter of 
finding these elements and making them available. 
Then came the lime men, clearly showing the need 
of lime, especially upon soils that had been in culti¬ 
vation for half a century. The old trio of food ele¬ 
ments did not like to admit lime as a member of 
the quartette of necessities—yet it had to be done. 
Now come the scientists with their work with sulphur. 
Are we to find that the quartette must become a 
ouintette? We think it likely, though it is too early 
to be sure. For a good many years we have, with 
others, used dry sulphur sprinkled over the cut po¬ 
tato seed. Without question it has increased the yield 
over seed not sulphured in this way. This increase 
was- attributed to the effect of the sulphur in killing 
the scab germ, and to the preservation of the seed piece 
October 2 b. 
in damp soils or wet weather. From the facts stated 
on our first page it looks as if there may be more in 
this than we have thought. Perhaps the sulphur was 
in its way, as necessary as the other four elements 
which we class as essential. Here is work for our 
scientists. They might well think out a line of ex¬ 
periments with sulphur as a fertilizer which we may 
all try. 
* 
Frank N. Godfrey, formerly Master of the New 
York State Grange, is a candidate for the State 
Senate in the 51st District, comprising the counties 
of Cattaraugus and Chautauqua. Mr. Godfrey is a 
farmer and a clean, honest man. We have in the 
past differed with him regarding the policy of the 
National Grange, but we believe he was conscientious 
in the position he took. We hope he will be elected. 
Thomas B. Wilson, of Ontario County, is also a 
candidate for the Senate in the 42d District, compris¬ 
ing Wayne, Ontario and Yates counties. Mr. Wilson 
has served two terms in the Legislature, is an ex¬ 
president of the New York State Fruit Growers’ As¬ 
sociation, and well known as a fruit grower and good 
citizen. Make it Senator Wilson. In the 35th Dis¬ 
trict—the counties of Jefferson and Oswego—F. A. 
Place is another candidate for the Senate. Mr. Place 
“has no occupation but farming, and never has had, 
except teaching.” This is an agricultural district. 
Why should it be represented by a city man when its 
needs and its future are those of the farm? Let it be 
Senator Place by all means! 
* 
Last Summer a law was passed by Congress and 
approved by the President giving the Secretary of 
Agriculture power to prohibit the importation of 
potatoes from certain countries. The object was to 
prevent the entrance of a new potato disease known 
as potato wart, canker or black scab. This disease 
exists in Newfoundland, the islands of St. Pierre 
and Miquelon, Great Britain, including England, 
Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Germany and Austria- 
Hungary. Acting under this law on September 20, 
Acting Secretary W. M. Hays issued a quarantine 
notice containing the following: 
Now, therefore, I. Willet M. Ilays, Acting Secretary of 
Agriculture, under authority conferred by Section 7 of 
the Act approved August 20, 1912, known as “The Plant 
Quarantine Act,” do hereby declare that it is necessary, 
in order to prevent the introduction into the United 
States of the disease known as potato wart, potato canker, 
black scab, etc., to forbid the importation into the United 
States from the hereinbefore named countries of the fol¬ 
lowing species, viz, the common or Irish potato, Solatium 
tuberosum. 
Hereafter, and until further notice, by virtue of said 
Section 7 of the Act of Congress approved August 20, 
1912, the importation for all purposes of the species and 
its horticultural varieties is prohibited. 
This is likely to have considerable effect upon the 
potato market. During the fiscal year ending July, 
1912, there were imported into this country 13,734,695 
bushels of potatoes value.d at $7,168,627. Of this 12,- 
685,719 bushels came from the countries named in 
this order, practically all from Great Britain. Ireland 
alone sent us 4,606,981 bushels last year. The effect 
of this order will be to prohibit all such shipments, 
and the American crop should thus be left practically 
free from foreign competition. The English crop is 
reported as below the average. The same is true of 
the German crop. In that country, however, potatoes 
are used largely for starch and alcohol making, and 
they would be sent here if the price goes much above 
$2.75 or $3 in New York. 
BREVITIES. 
Do not be afraid to cut “rod tape.” It’s easy to make 
and plenty more where the last came from. 
We like to be considered an authority on useful infor¬ 
mation—but the latest call is a startler—where is the 
International Association of Bar Tenders? 
Indiana has a large nut crop this year, according to 
State Forester Charles C. Deum. Hickory, beech, walnut, 
butternut and hazel have all borne heavily. 
We are now shutting out German potatoes to prevent 
disease infection, while Germany has shut out our potatoes 
for many years to avoid the entry of the Colorado potato 
beetle. 
The Montana Florists’ and Nurserymen’s Association 
has passed a resolution discouraging the planting of 
Alexander and Transcendant crab apple in irrigated dis¬ 
tricts, owing to their liability to blight. 
The Thirty Cent Egg Club of Cleveland, O., has boy¬ 
cotted eggs, and it is said that 40,000 people have united 
in the movement. Eggs were reported at 43 cents a 
dozen, and the boycotters will ignore them until they 
come down to 30 cents. The uuterrified hen, however, 
continues to ignore the boycott. 
A correspondent in Gladwin County, Mich., says: 
“Quite an acreage of potatoes here, but no market.” And 
in some other section of the country we shall find there 
are plenty of mouths, but no potatoes to put in them. 
Is there any one economic problem more pressing than 
that of bringing producer and consumer closer together? 
