l^-as 
THE) RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
December 14, 
Hope Farm Notes 
People still come now and then 
claiming there is no such place as Hope 
Farm. Only last week a woman de¬ 
clared that this farm must be a sort of 
myth, with the Hope Farm man a 
plausible myth-maker. Now and then 
heroic treatment is necessary, and could 
I have my way this lady would have 
been put right into our kitchen on 
Thanksgiving Day with the following 
prescription: 
“There are 16 people now on this 
farm and three more hardy adults 
are coming for dinner. They will all 
be hungry. There is a 17-pound turkey 
and here are the ‘fixings.’ You are to 
roast this turkey and cook these vege¬ 
tables, make a fine large dish of gravy, 
have bread enough—in fact see that 19 
solid people have more than they can 
eat. If you still think after this that 
the Hope Farmers are mere shadows 
you may proceed to bake about a dozen 
loaves of bread and try your hand at 
washing the big hamper of clothes up 
stairs.” 
My judgment is that this would settle 
it, and if any man were still in doubt 
I would ask him to pay the day’s bills 
at retail prices! Labor and money 
would make a sound argument. 
Thanksgiving finally came with a 
baby snowstorm. For a time it was 
fierce, with the air full of flying snow, 
but all through it was that something 
which we detect in the voice and words 
of a bluffer who tries to make us think 
he is to do wonderful things to us. 
This storm was a bluff, for shortly after 
noon it stopped and the air turned 
colder. We were late getting out, for 
most of us feel that an extra hour of 
sleep is a very comfortable thanksgiving 
offering. The daughter was a little sick, 
and spent the day in bed. She is the 
family pudding-maker, and thus we had 
no pudding for dinner. Two jars of 
Crosby peaches made a good substitute. 
The other 15 Hope Farmers were up 
for breakfast. Kitchen is no place for 
the men of a family when the women 
have a feast on hand. We are per¬ 
mitted to look in occasionally to see 
how the turkey is browning, but our 
true place is out doors working up a 
strong appetite at some useful occupa¬ 
tion. We put Broker in the single 
wagon and with the children to help I 
drove about picking up rubbish. It is 
remarkable how sticks and old boards 
or old cans will accumulate around the 
buildings. We picked several loads of 
trash suitable for fuel. It is just the 
stuff for an open fire, and it should be 
picked up before snow comes. On the 
lower farm we have a big open ditch 
into which cans and similar trash can 
be dumped. On every farm there are 
dozens of wastes which might be saved 
and help out the fuel or the fertilizer 
bills. We burn coal in'the heater, but 
mostly wood in the kitchen stove. There 
was a little place in the barnyard which 
needs filling in, and I found that the 
boys were using the stove ashes to fill 
it. When you think of it this is no 
subject for Thanksgiving, for these 
stove ashes contain potash from the 
wood fuel. Potash costs five cents a 
pound and is what our soil particularly 
needs. Coal ashes on the other hand 
contain no plant food to speak of and 
are better for the filling in. So here¬ 
after all the stove ashes are mixed into 
the ash pile. The day before Thanks¬ 
giving Merrill had hauled away a great 
pile of these ashes. We put them around 
the apple trees. During November we 
work around these trees with a heavy 
hoe—pulling away the trash and stirr¬ 
ing the ground. The object of this is_ to 
destroy any possible harbor or nesting 
place for mice. This usually leaves a 
little depression or saucer around the 
trees. If this were left water might 
run in and freeze around the trunk. So 
to prevent this we make a little mound 
of ashes around the base of the tree. 
It would not do to use wood ashes for 
this work, but coal ashes, or when 
these are mixed with stove ashes, are 
excellent. This is the best use we know 
for them. If slops from the house 
could be poured over the pile so much 
the better, for the ashes will hold and 
“carry” the ammonia. The pure wood 
ashes from the fire-place causes Thanks¬ 
giving for the hogs. 
While we were giving thanks for 
rubbish Merrill took his hoe and went 
on the hill to finish working around the 
last of the peach trees, while Philip 
began the plans for drying out our con¬ 
crete cellar. When we moved part of 
the old house away there was uncovered 
a cellar. It had always been damp, and 
I was tempted to fill it in with boulders 
from our old stone walls. Finally we 
had it cleaned out, the sides plastered 
with concrete and a strong concrete 
roof put over it. It gives room for 
about 150 barrels of apples, but is too 
damp for use. In studying the reason 
for this we concluded that the water 
works in around the sides near the top 
for lack of good drainage. The soil is 
tough and hard, and level on one side. 
So we are digging deep ditches around 
this cellar with a reasonable fall away 
from the house. These will contain tile 
and stones so as to carry the water 
promptly away from the cellar. The 
drip from the house will be carried as 
far from the walls of this cellar as 
possible. There is nothing to be thank¬ 
ful for in a damp concrete cellar. It 
is like a man trained at some expense 
to be a protector who fails to be of any 
service in time of need. 
I cannot say that we accomplished 
great things during the forenoon, but 
we were ready for what followed. 
Shortly before noon our old friend, 
Bob, came trotting up the road with the 
three friends who were to help dispose 
of that turkey. There is more or less 
New England blood that we are sure 
of in at least 15 of those who filled 
Hope Farm that day, and from that 
statement you can imagine the welcome 
these visitors received. Old Bob arched 
his neck and pawed as if he thought it 
was all for him. Later in the barn, 
over his oats and cornstalks no doubt 
Bob regaled Tom and Broker with 
stories of his great importance and 
popularity. Is not that a Thanksgiving 
privilege? 
I had a roaring open fire waiting, and 
by the time our folks were well warmed 
up dinner was ready. It was a job to 
seat them all, but they .finally found 
places. Uncle George asked the bless¬ 
ing and then the Hope Farm man at¬ 
tacked the last defences of the turk. 
I wish the present war could be ended 
as peacefully—though it was a mighty 
struggle to find a piece of white meat 
for everyone. As for dressing, the last 
of them had to put up with a Summer 
costume, for I scraped that bird bare. 
When the dressing runs short you can 
serve a little more yellow turnips and 
say that bread and gravy makes a fine 
substitute. They were all busy. Uncle 
John, with his finger on fourscore, 
had a fine piece of breast, while the 
youngest redhead at four years gnawed 
a wing. It was a good dinner, and that 
17-pound bird faded away like a dream. 
After dinner there were long talks 
before the fire, and Uncle George and 
I walked over the hill through the 
orchards. The storm had ended, and 
there was a hard pinch of frost in the 
air. It looked as if the ground would 
freeze at last, so that we can mulch 
our strawberries. Uncle George is 
interested in planting evergreens. Since 
I wrote of my own failure to have 
vision and a good look at the future 
there have been many questions about 
the Christmas tree business. It would 
not pay to send small lots of trees. I 
understand that 40,000 trees have been 
sent from the Adirondacks alone. As 
for prices, they will run all the way 
from one dollar to $25, depending on 
size and beauty and the customer. I 
still think that tree planting on waste 
land will pay well. 
The day does not tarry in late Novem¬ 
ber, and as Uncle George and I came 
down my hill the sun was approaching 
the ridge at the west of the valley. We 
stood for a moment and looked across 
the cold slopes shining in their thin 
white garment of snow. Of course we 
were both thinking of Thanksgiving—of 
many a day far back along the track 
which ends on a New England farm 
years ago. Our folks had to go early, 
so through the starlight Bob trotted 
home with them, and they did not go 
alone, for a great company of good 
wishes rode with them. 
The two little redheads were early 
to bed and sailed away to dreamland 
in a flying machine made of turkey 
wings and wishbones. The rest of us 
gathered before my fire and cracked 
nuts and popped corn over the coals. 
I had a plate of baked apples outside 
which suited me well. The sick girl 
upstairs had plenty of companions, for 
all took turns in going up to see her. It 
was a happy and thoughtful Thanksgiv¬ 
ing. Next year will be a test for the 
Hope Farmers, for three of the children 
are now young people, and will go out 
to try their powers at college or labor. 
Well, we have tried to prepare them, 
and they will always remember Thanks¬ 
giving at Hope Farm at least. 
H. w. c. 
J&txl 
THE UNIVERSAL CAR 
Here’s the doubt dispeller! 
The Ford is backed by a 
financial responsibility abso 
lutely unmatched in the 
automobile manufacturing 
world—a responsibility that 
the car itself has built and 
must maintain. And it is 
your best guarantee. 
Every third car is a Ford. Nearly 180,000 
have been sold and delivered. New prices 
—runabout $525—touring car $600—de¬ 
livery car $625—town car $800—with all 
equipment, f.o.b. Detroit. Get catalogue 
333A and particulars direct from Ford 
Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan. 
When you lap your 
harrow half” you do 
your work twice as well 
If you do this you are the sort of man 
who can understand why it pays us to 
take double pains in making “Ball-Band 
Rubber Footwear. 
a 
BALL § BAND 
Just as you know how to put a little bit of good 
sense here and there—like a wide door in your horse 
barn to prevent bruising hips—we know how to make 
“Ball-Band” Boots and Arctics so that you will be 
glad you bought them. 
Look for this Red Ball in buying. It is on every article we 
make and is the sign of footwear you can trust. 
If your dealer can’t supply you, write us and we’ll send you 
the name of a nearby dealer who sells “Ball-Band” Footwear. 
Mishawaka Woolen Mfg. Co., Mishawaka, Ind. 
** The House That Pays Millions for Quality ” 
ss 
Every mouthful of unground 
feed your stock eats means 
a waste of 25 to 30%. Would 
you let that amount rot in the 
field unharvested? No! 
Then GRIND IT on a 
STOVER 
OR IDEAL 
FEED FULL 
SEND FOR CATALOG 
We also build Samson Wind 
Mills, Pump Jacks,-Hand Grind¬ 
ing Mills for* Poultry Raisers, 
Gasoline Engines. Ensilage Cut- 
ters and Brass Candlesticks. 
STOVER MANUFACTURING CO. 
188 Ideal Avenue. FREEPORT. ILLINOIS 
Reduced Factory Prices 
Non 
f shipp 
f you n 
Quaker City £,111 
shipped direct to you. Saves 
you money, time and trouble. 
We pay the freight. Try the 
size and style you want at our risk . 
on lO Days Froe Trial. Send 
h back if notsatisfactory. High- I 
est quality standard for 46 
years— now better made than ever. 
Grinds coarsest and finest table 
meal—all grains, separate or mixed,^ 
and ear corn with or without huslcgL-^, 
—23 styles—hand powerto20 H. 
Accept our offer—no risk to you- '--3- 
Illustrated catalog Free. Also Farm America’s Standard 
Supply Catalog of labor saving For 42 Years 
farm machinery at factory prices. 
THE A. W. STRAUB COMPANY 
DepfiE. 3740 W. Filbert St., Philadelphia. Pa. 
D«pt,T.‘ 3709 So* Ashland Ave., Chicago, 111. 
SCIENTIFIC POWER MILL 
Best and | strongest mill ever built. Capacity 30 to 
, 60 bushels of cob corn per 
hour. The only mill on 
market with Ring Oiling 
Bearings.Adapted for use in 
any locality. Will grind ear 
corn, shelled corn, 
i oats, barley, rye, and 
) all small grains. Will 
also grind ear corn in 
. the shuck. .Produces a 
better grade o f work 
and more of it than any 
other mill of similar 
[type on the market. 
EASY RUNNING—FULLY GUARANTEED 
Built for heavy service. This No. 103 mill has given 
the best of satisfaction everywhere. Write for our 
new catalog which describes over 20 styles and 
sizes of Power and Sweep Mills. 
The Bauer Bros. Co.,.Box 415 Springfield, Ohio 
Supp 
farm 
y> 
Get This! 
The Mighty 
Monurch Steel 
Stump Puller 
outwears and out- 
Clears 1 to 5 ^ P.? lls a11 other ?- 
Acres Dailv 17 saRTS e *P er >- 
Acres uauy e nce hM proved 
it! The only stump puller in the world equipped with Genuine 
‘•Red Strand” Jsteel Wire Rope. Send for big catalog. 
It’s worth money to you if have only a *-"v stumps. Act I (25) 
ZIMMERMAN STEEL CO., Dept. RHP LONE TWEE, IA. 
Bigger Stock Profits 
Mix cut roots with dry feed, double Its value. Roots have J 
their place in the feeding: economy of every barn and J 
stable. Keep your stock Healthy—they pay bigger J| 
profits on less feed. The 
Banner Root 
Cutter 
is only machine 
making the “Non- 
. ■ - Choke Curve 
Cut" feed from roots, etc. Self-feeding ; 
fast and easy ; 7 sizes for hand or power. Low 
prices. Book Free. Address 
O. E. Thompson & Sons, Ypsilanti, Mich . 1 
EasieronYou rEnffine 
ie 
of 
eed — fSV 
Fastest, lightest-running 
mill made. ;No burrs. One 
set rollers grinds 6,000 bu. < 
cob —wet or dry. Force feed— 
can’t clog. 
S&SSS BiillBog* 
-Try 14 Ten Days EVee 
If it doesn’t “make good” on your ' 
farm — grind faster, finer, cheaper 
than any mill you ever Baw —send it 
back at our expense. You don’t pay 
one cent down. Write for details, 
stating H. P. of engine. 
Leu Mfg. Co., 204 East Road, Crown Point, Ind. 
