©66 
August 23, 
PUBLISHER’S DESK 
We have seen how Mr. W. W. 
Leister, of Milford Square, Pa., won a 
prize from the Strout Company by selling 
a farm at a profit to himself and the 
agency of 71 per cent, of the owner’s 
price. The result was so satisfactory the 
company repeated the offer to secure a 
chum for Mr. Leister, and that they 
may be as they said “real birds of a 
feather,” made the following offer in the 
October, 190S, Bulletin: 
The Strout man who during the month 
of November makes the sale where the 
commission carries the largest bonus over 
and above the usual commission of $200 
or ten per cent., will be declared the 
winner and I will pay all his expenses to 
our next banquet, from his home to the 
feast and return. 
Then the “Buggy Seat Confidences” for 
December, 1908, contained this: 
“LUCKY LEISTER” NOT TO BE 
“LONESOME.” 
The September race for that free trip 
to our next banquet was a good one. But 
because “Lucky Leister” had the prize 
clinched from the get-away it did not 
offer the real sport and excitement of 
this November race for free trip No. 2. 
When half a hundred men hit the grit 
each with his mind made up to come 
under the wire a winner if trying will 
put him there, the gravel is bound to 
fly. That is the way the race was 
started, and it was first a $250, $350, 
$400 and then a $500 commission that 
led.' Then Brother Will Stevens got 
his second wind and swung around the 
half-way post with a $700 commission 
on a $5,800 sale. That was going some, 
and he hung right on. too, in a game 
fight to better his lead. But oppor¬ 
tunity favored Winning Wilder and on 
the three-quarters stretch he pounded 
out a $700 record breaker for old Ver¬ 
mont, on an $1,800 sale. Around the 
three-quarter post with November 30th 
in sight, it looked as though his lead 
would hold. But about that time, 
“Lucky Leister” of September fame re¬ 
marked to his good lieutenant, Mr. 
George, “It would be rather unsociable 
for me to ride to New York and you 
to walk ; suppose we eat an early break¬ 
fast, give our horses an internal appli¬ 
cation of XX and win the race.” And 
they did ! $1,025 was the winning com¬ 
bination, $1,975 was the net price of 
the farm; selling price $3,000. NEXT. 
When we published complaints of 
farmers to the effect that they had been 
induced by the Strout agents to pay 50 
per cent, above the owner’s price for 
farms, the Strout Company alleged that 
their business had been injured to the 
extent of several hundred thousand dol¬ 
lars, and filed nearly a dozen separate 
libel suits to recover the damages. We 
now have their own testimony to cor¬ 
roborate the farmers’ complaint. 
In the three cases, the details of which 
are given above, the percentage of profits 
based on the owner’s price were 13 per 
cent., 38 per cent, and 52 per cent., re¬ 
spectively. The Strouts are on record 
for the statement that they can buy prop¬ 
erty for cash for from 10 per cent, to 
20 per cent less than they can list it 
for sale on contract. However this may 
be, it is safe to say that the owners in¬ 
sisted on getting the value of the prop¬ 
erty at the time of sale. It is clear 
therefore that the buyers paid 13 per 
cent., 38 per cent, and 52 per cent., re¬ 
spectively, more than the farms were 
worth. If men want to buy farms on 
such terms, no other man has any right 
to object, though the wife and family 
might be eligible to make a protest. But 
in any event the buyer is entitled to 
know the basis on which he is expected 
to buy and pay for farms. 
Yesterday I received from the Orange 
.Tudd Company a postal order for $4.06. 
This is $2.50 which they had credited on 
advance subscription to American Agri¬ 
culturist, and $1.56 for interest balance. 
This is five cents more than we claimed. 
Mr. Myrick evidently could not stand 
The R. N.-Y searchlight. 
Pennsylvania. W. K. heyham. 
The impression was created that the 
Myrick building certificates were a lien 
on a building. Their name so implied. 
They were nothing of the kind. The 
company that issued them owned no real 
estate of any kind; never did. The cer¬ 
tificates were merely receipts for the 
money with certain conditions of inter¬ 
est and repayment. The advertising and 
the certificate itself clearly stated that 
the holder would draw 10 per cent inter¬ 
est. Of the interest $1 was to pay for 
subscription annually to American Agri¬ 
culturist and the balance, if let run, was 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
to be compounded at four per cent in¬ 
terest. 
After holding the certificate for five 
years Mr. Heyham asked that it be re¬ 
deemed. He got in return $13. The cer¬ 
tificate provided that if withdrawn $2 
would be retained for two years advanced 
subscription to American Agriculturist. 
Failing to collect the balance, Mr. Hey¬ 
ham requested us to collect it for him. 
On our demand Mr. Myrick set up the 
claim that according to paragraph 4 of 
the certificate, no further balance was 
due; that the 10 per cent, was not al¬ 
lowed when the money was demanded 
during the lifetime of the man who sent 
it to Mr. Myrick. Nevertheless he sent 
a further remittance of $2.50. This fourth 
paragraph was the joker. It did refer 
to the 10 per cent, payment at the death 
of the holder, but it in no way changed 
the other paragraphs promising 10 per 
cent, annually on the $15 paid for the 
certificate, and providing that the money 
might be withdrawn after five years. It 
was plain, however, that the certificates 
had been cleverly and cunningly written 
so that a casual reading would give the 
impression that the 10 per cent, would 
be paid, while a careful reading of para¬ 
graph 4 might lead to the technical im¬ 
plication that the farmer had to die 
before the amount became due. It was 
the familiar fake practice of making a 
proposition read two ways. We 
figured that there was yet $1.51 due Mr. 
Ileyham. We knew we would get it, 
because we knew Mr. Myrick could not 
resist the demand of 130,000 farmers de¬ 
manding justice for one of their number. 
We were prepared to keep up the de¬ 
mand for six years. In six months Mr. 
Myrick verified our figures and made it 
five cents more and settled. He has also 
refunded the $2.50 advance subscription 
money which, notwithstanding the cer¬ 
tificate, Mr. Heyham had a right to 
demand, but which he did not even re¬ 
quest. 
In explanation of the appearance of 
the advertisement of Sheerin’s Wholesale 
Nurseries in our columns, which business 
we refused for a good many years, the 
good will and stock of the concern has, 
we are reliably informed, been purchased 
by F. W. Wells, of Dansville, N. Y., and 
the business is now entirely under Mr. 
Well’s management. 
I have a letter here wanting me to 
invest in so-called Gin Seal. It looks 
all right on paper, but I don’t know how 
it would if I had a small patch in my 
backyard. If it would do as that letter 
states it would be O. K. Can you give 
the information concerning the plant and 
the party that is handling the same? 
Connecticut. f. s. s. 
This Gin Seal proposition is very 
much on the same order as the ginseng 
culture which was boomed so highly 10 
or 12 years ago and represented that 
fortunes were to be made in growing it. 
The only ones we heard of making for¬ 
tunes out of the ginseng growing were 
those who sold the seeds to misguided 
people believing they could make a suc¬ 
cess of cultivating the plants. This Gin 
Seal, which is also known as golden seal, 
was fully described in our May 24 issue. 
The plant has medicinal value, but it is 
very difficult to grow successfully and 
it is only those with great experience 
and knowledge of this kind of plants who 
can hope to make any sort of a success 
of it. Others should leave the proposi¬ 
tion alone. The literature enclosed of 
the Wisconsin Gin Seal Co. certainly 
bears all the earmarks of the professional 
promoter, and this would be sufficient in 
itself to caution subscribers not to be 
misled by the extravagant and even 
ridiculous claims. j. j. d. 
Tramp : “Yes’m, I wunst had a good 
job managin’ ■ a hand laundry, but it 
failed on me.” Lady : “Poor man ! How 
did it happen to fail?” Tramp: “She 
left an’ went home to her folks.”—Chi¬ 
cago Record-Herald. 
Moes Sanitary Poultry Drinking Fountain 
REFVACi COVER AMO YOU 
HAVE A CONTINUOUS SWTOT 
OF PURE WATERys 
AUMtMl 
Tbe Most Popular FotmUhr 
od the Market. 
FILLS FROM THE TOP. 
Dead air apace between cover 
and reservoir keeps water cool 
in summer and from freezing in 
winter. If not at your dealers, 
write ua to send you one on ap- __ 
proval and if you find it is the fountain you want, write us for a special 
.price on your requirements. Manufactured in three sizes: 1, 2 and € 
gallon. A hook or» each fountain for hanging up when dcairtdb 
OTIS A MOE, 1710 Otl« Bulldlmr. CHICAGO, ILL 
Fill Your Silo Satisfied**' 
Over ■ DACC Machines are'' - 
gg flA KUOd fully guaranteed 
Years You take no risk 
Experience 
Back of it. 
We want to prove that our machines are a 
good investment before you give up your 
money. We know they are so good that we do 
not feel it a risk to make this offer. Many new 
features have been added which you should know about 
before buying a machine. Catalog explains all. It is free. 
The E. W. Ross Co., Box 113 Springfield, O. 
Eats Up Silage 
Almost 
Feeds Itself 
There’s no equal to the 
oricftnal ensilage cutter. Almost 
feodsitself. Workeeteadlly. Takesevery- 
thlng fed, green or dry, without a hitch. The 
BLIZZARD 
Ensilage Cutter 
eutsflredifferent lengths, Knives adjustable when 
In operation. With its improved wind elevator It 
carries the cut feed to any height.and distributes 
it evenly. Built go simple and strong it outlasts 
every machine of its kind. Absolutely guaranteed. 
Mounted or unmounted. Write today for 
Free Booklets 
on eilafre—(2) 1913 Blizz.rd Catalog*. (3) “What 
Uaera Say," contains scores of let¬ 
ters from users. Any or all are free. 
Write today, stating whether or not 
you have silo. 
The Jos- Dick 
Mfg. Co. 
1426 Tuscarawas St. 
Canton, Ohio 
Why do you use the word sucker so 
frequently in referring to people who 
make foolish investments or listen to 
great stories of profit? l. b. l. 
This question was answered rather 
severely, it appeared to me, on page 870, 
I have used the word “sucker” frequently 
in this department in want of a better 
term to express the idea. In many cases, 
a victim is a better choice of words. I 
never used the word “sucker” as a term 
of reproach, except possibly at times in 
a facetious way. The sucker fish is easy 
game, and probably from that fact the 
name has been used to denominate per¬ 
sons who take easy bait. It is true 
that the word has been used to some ex¬ 
tent in derision or reproach, but we have 
used it in the broader sense to designate 
a person who has been victimized, 
whether through his own fault or other¬ 
wise. The men who have gone through 
life without playing sucker to some 
scheme are scarce. I never knew such 
a prodigy of wisdom intimately. The 
estate of J. P. Morgan revealed some gold 
bricks accumulated by the crafty 
financier. When we bite on a get-rich- 
quick scheme we are certainly playing 
the “sucker” in taking such transparent 
bait, but when poor inexperienced people 
lose their money through unscrupulous 
promoters we naturally refer to them as 
victims of a bad scheme. Many people 
refer to themselves as “suckers” when 
they realize that they have been “caught,” 
and I have had a few experiences when 
I would Tike to find a harder word to 
describe my own improvidence and fool¬ 
ishness. 
Inclosed find receipt for box of ducks 
shipped to Boston, Mass., by me on July 
2, 1910, and which were not delivered 
until July 5. The goods were nearly 
worthless and sold for six cents a pound, 
in proper shape they would have netted 
20 cents a pound. I entered a claim and 
after a lot: of correspondence they offered 
me $10, which I refused. I then went to 
a lawyer and he asked me to get him 
the correspondence. I have been unable 
to get it or any answer to my letters. 
Will you take the matter up for' me? 
The' claim is for $20.76. G. E. s. 
This was referred to us in October, 
1911. The company ignored us but evi¬ 
dently took up the claim. The first 
acknowledgment of our letters was on 
January 16 and contained the informa¬ 
tion that the claim would be adjusted. 
Subscriber reported that he had received 
voucher on February 12, 1912. It took 
19 months to bring them to time. 
Papec Ensilage Cutters 
Cut silage perfectly, and at a very low cost of operation. 
Papec knives cut smoothly and swiftly. They make a fine, 
uniform silage that is very palatable and nutritious. The 
combined throwing and blowing force that lifts the silage 
is generated from one fifth less power than is required by 
any other blower doing the same work. 
Mechanical perfection and high quality of material mean 
long life, no loss of power and low cost of operation. 
Our new illustrated catalog gives facts showing 
how “ The Wonderful Papec ’• will save time 
and money at cutting time. Send for copy today. 
PAPEC MACHINE CO. Boxio SH0RTSVILLE, N.Y. 
20 Distributing Points in the TJ. 3. 
t&tt 
wed 
SILO FILLERS 
Handsome,illustrated booklet giving 30 
convincing reasons for buying the 
powerful, low down, underslung, cut- 
under oak frame, Appleton Silo Filler, 
mailed free. Write for it to-day. 
APPLETON MFG. CO,, 427 fargost., bataviaTiuL.u. s .a. J 
My Famous $ l?$ Offer 
1914 Model 
My special “ONE DOLLAR OFFER” has pleased so many farm¬ 
ers that I have decided to keep it up for another month and thus lot 
everybody take advantage of it. Here it is: 
You send me one dollar and I will ship you, ALL FREIGHT 
PAID BY MYSELF, this, my new 1914 Chatham Grain Grader 
and Cleaner. Use the maehine a month. If satisfied at end of 30 
days, pay me my low cash price or Rive me your note, without in. 
terest, payable January 1, 1914. If not satisfied, return the ma¬ 
chine at my freight expense and I’ll return your dollar. 
As n matter of fact, $1.00 won't half pay me for the freight. I only want 
the dollar to hold us evidence of good faith. 
Chatham Grain Grader and Cleaner 
After 41 years’ experience, 
II 
Manson Campbell 
_ ____ .1 know every grain and noxious weed grown m 
America. I know the section where each one grows. I know every grain and 
weed that grows on your furm. Experience lias shown that a Grain Grader and 
Cleaner should have the special equipment for the particular funning section 
to which it goes. For example. I send an entirely different equipment or 
screens, riddles and gangs to Maine from what I send to California. There are 
[ scarcely two states in the United States to which I send the sumo equipment. Thus you 
get the exact outfit to handle the grains and weed seed 
on your farm. If you want more or different scroens, 
I will send them free. Not a penny would I usk for 
extra screens and riddles. 
The Chatham now handles over 70 seed mix¬ 
tures—wheat, oats, peas, beans, corn, barley, 
flax, clover, timothy, etc. Takes cockle, wild 
oats, tame oats and smut from seed wheat; 
any mixture from flux; huckhoru from 
elover; sorts corn for drop plunter. Re¬ 
moves foul weed seed and all shrunken. 
Brings It— 
Freight Paid 
ily grains. Takes out all 
dust, dirt and chuff. It is also a bully 
chaffer. Handles 00 bushels grain per 
hour. Gas power or hand power. 
Easiest running mill on earth. 
Writ A Send postal today and receive 
k !W IIIO FREE by next mail my latest 
copyrighted book. "The Chatham 
System of Brooding Big Crops.” 
Address Dopt. 43 
The Manson Campbell Co. 
Dotrolt, Mich. 
Kansas City, Mo. 
Minnoapolie, Minn. 
My 
Free 
8ervice 
Depart¬ 
ment will 
separate,clean 
and grade FREE 
any mixture you 
send in. If you’ve 
got some impurity in your 
grain that you cannot get 
rid of, don’t get discouraged. _ 
Write me. Send postal for Big Free Book. 
