©32 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
October 1, 
WINTER FEEDING OF WILD BIRDS. 
I have on the Nescopeck Mountain 
a spring of the purest water I can find 
any record of. I am bottling it and de¬ 
livering it in New York and other cities. 
It is situated on a tract of 230 acres of 
wild land, and I am particularly anxious 
to protect and feed the birds of that sec¬ 
tion in Winter time, when the severe 
cold and snows interfere with their get¬ 
ting proper food. I want to preserve 
this wild land in its wild state with the 
exception of a portion of it, which I am 
trying to make a beautiful park of, and 
I wish to know the best way of feeding 
the birds in the Winter time, so that the 
squirrels and mice will not get all of 
the grain that I put out. Any informa¬ 
tion that you or your readers can give 
me in regard to any plan for protecting 
the food for the birds and yet putting it 
where they can and will be likely to get 
it, will be thankfully received. The birds 
that will be most likely to stay there 
through the Winter will be pheasants 
and quail. My bottling house, while in 
the forest, has large plate glass windows. 
They are so clear that many of the birds 
attempt to fly through the building and 
in some cases have flown against the 
glass so hard as to kill them. A few 
months ago a large beautiful pheasant 
flew against one of the large plate glass 
windows with such force as to break the 
glass and kill the bird. He went through 
the window and fell dead on the inside 
of the building. This looks more as 
though I had a trap for the birds than a 
place of protection, but I think as they 
become more familiar with the building 
being there, there will be less danger of 
their being injured by trying to fly 
through the windows. Is there any way 
of putting up sheltered platforms to de¬ 
posit the food on and build them so 
the squirrels and mice could not get to 
the food? Would the birds be likely to 
go on to such platforms? j. e. p. 
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 
R. N.-\.—Information is wanted from 
anyone who knows. At the Connecticut 
Agricultural College we recently saw 
an “exerciser” which might be modified 
to suit this purpose. There was a cylin- 
der about the size of a large ear of corn 
made of wire cloth with a fair-sized 
mesh. This was filled with grain and 
was hung on a rod so that the hens 
jumped up and picked the grain out 
through the holes. The cylinder turned 
on the rod and did not seem to sift out 
the grain. A device of this sort hung 
on poles or trees might let the birds feed 
while squirrels or vermin could not 
touch it. 
Payment for Drilling Well. 
D. J. J., Illinois .—Last Fall A engaged 
B to drill a well on a farm at $2.50 a 
foot, A to board two men during drilling. 
B guaranteed to furnish water in quantity 
to supply 25 head of stock and house, and 
did not expect to go below 60 ft. He went 
to the depth of 162 ft. and left at that 
depth in quicksand and very little water, 
a pint in pump and only got five pails of 
water when the pump was filed with sand. 
B now demands $415. Can he compel A 
to pay the bill? 
Ans. —You have started a man at 
work on a verbal agreement when you 
should have had a carefully drawn writ¬ 
ten contract. If B agreed to furnish an 
adequate supply of water before he re¬ 
ceived any pay you are of course not 
bound to pay a cent with the present 
supply. But if you gave him an order 
to dig a well for you he can collect for 
his labor. This would be true if you 
gave him permission to dig a well, for 
the law presumes that he will get and 
that you will pay what labor is worth. 
Sit down with some good man, who 
knows the circumstances, and put down 
on paper just what you can prove and 
just what B can prove. Then determine 
what the agreement consisted of and 
settle on that basis. If you go to law 
your lawyers will, under instructions 
from the court, be compelled to do just 
this thing, and you will be at great ex¬ 
pense. Show yourself to be as fair as 
any judge and as liberal as any jury. 
Wife’s Dower Rights. 
II. G. I., Connecticut .—Would you give 
the Connecticut laws in reference to a wife’s 
share if husband is living? Is it legal for 
him to sell without her signature? lias 
a woman no protection at all? One-third of 
the money was mine. 
Ans. —In Connecticut every woman 
married before April 20, 1877, has a 
right of dower in one-third of the real 
estate of the husband. Her signature 
to the deed is required. In any event a 
woman who had put one-third of the 
purchase price into land could get her 
rights by filing a bill setting up the facts. 
Waterproofing Cement. 
On page 676 C. O., New Jersey, wants to 
know how to keep water from coming 
through bottom of cellar. I had a similar 
trouble with a new concrete floor, but gave 
the spots a coating of cement, mixed so it 
would spread nicely witli a plastering trowel 
and never saw any more water or sign of 
moisture. it. b. 
Summit, N. J. 
In answer to C. O., give the inside of cel¬ 
lar walls, to grade a heavy coating of pitch 
or coal tar, also the floor. Cover floor and 
wall (to grade) with tar paper lapping 
points, and tarring same carefully these, 
give all a coat of one to two cement with 
plasterer’s trowel, using any good water¬ 
proofing in the cement when mixing. 
Hansons Island, Mich. j. t. g. 
It Pomps Water 
It Saws Wood 
Separates Cream 
Grinds Feed 
Sprays Trees 
Washes 
Chorns 
Does any such 
thing for 
you. 
2K. 3^ 
and 5 H. P. 
THE FARMER’S HELP 
But there is something beside the right 
amount of horse power to look up in buying 
a gasoline engine. There are a number of 
very important improvements (not in other 
engines) which have been made in the 
Gasoline Engines 
For instance, you get all the advantages of 
a water cooled engine but don’t have the 
nuisance of a separate tank. 
The Novo is frost - proof —guaranteed 
against injury by freezing. Every working 
pact of the engine is heavy, but by keeping 
unnecessary pig iron out of the base the 
Novo is lighter and easier to move. 
The Novo always pulls more than prom¬ 
ised. It picks up quickly under a load. 
Send for the 
NOVO BOOKLET 
it’s free) and full of engine information 
Hildreth Mfg. Co., 32 Willow Street, Lansing, Mich. 
Better 
beeper 
Power 
—Power you can 
depend on, power 
lor 100 uses, 
power that is 
cheaper and bet¬ 
ter for you—is 
the old reliable 
proven per¬ 
fect L e f f e 1 
Steam Engine. 
Simple, dur- 
sure and safe. 
f A # Steam Engines 
mmMSrn a C wM and Boilers 
are famous everywhere. Let us send you Free Book¬ 
let—“The Farmer’s Power.” Write postal now to 
LEFFEL & COMPANY 
JACOBSON 
SELF-CONTAINED ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC DRAINING 
WATER TANK. 
No Freezing No Overheating: 
No Lurg:e Water Tank 
The Agency is available in some sections and 
valuable in all. 
JACOBSON MACHINE MFG. CO. 
Ill Irvine Street . Warren,Pa. 
Keep Doss 
A DIPPING TANK OR A HOG WALLOW 
WITH . 
KRESO DIP N2.I 
WILL DO THE WORK 
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LOUSY MANGY 
UNTHRIFTY PIGS. IF YOU HAVE SOME 
OF THIS KIND YOU WILL FIND IT WORTH 
WHILE TO GET OUR CIRCULAR ON 
TANKS AND WALLOWS. IT TELLS 
HOW TO MAKE THEM OF CEMENT 
KRESO DIP N2I 
IS A REAL NECESSITY 
ABOUT ALL LIVE STOCK 
FOR KILLING LICE .TICKS, MITES, FLEAS. 
FOR TREATING SCAB.MANGE,RINGWORM, 
AND OTHER SKIN DISEASES; 
TO DISINFECT, DEODORIZE, 
CLEANSE Qc PURIFV. 
ALL OF THESE USES FULLY DESCRIBED 
IN OUR BOOKLETS. WRITE FOR COPIES 
ASK YOUR DRUGCIST FOR KRESO DIP NOT 
PARKE,DAVIS a CO.. 
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 
>fRAD£ 
M. I. F. GO. 
ZING COATED 
Af AR& 
Zinc Coated Brand 
NAILS 
Will last a life-time 
Read this Evidence of Durability: 
In 1880, Mr. M. P. Harding, of Branford, Conn., shin¬ 
gled his store with nine shingles, nailing them with Zinc 
Coated Iron Cut Nails. In July 1000, just 29 years later, 
he reshingled. The nails were as free from rust as on the 
day they were driven, although the house stands within 
three-quarters of a mile of the seashore. The cut shows 
some of the nails. 
We make the same hails today we made then. 
W1IY PUT 10-YEAK NAILS IN 80-YEAR SHINGLES! 
Write to us for Samples and Prices. 
MALLEABLE IRON FITTINGS CO., Branford, Conn. 
A DISCUSSION OF CUTTER KNIVES. 
There are virtually three styles of fod¬ 
der cutters in the market. Really four 
styles, one with the knives on a head on 
shaft and cutting against a shear plate 
with edges of knives on outside the 
circle; one of same style but having 
cutting edges of knives on inside of 
circle; one with knives oil fly wheel 
set on an angle so as to cut from the 
hub to outer edge of wheel. The others 
have the knives so placed on spokes 
of wheel as to begin to cut on ends of 
knives next rim, and cutting toward the 
hub. This last style is by far the best, 
most sensible and strongest, and takes 
far less power and is the easiest to keep 
in order. 
Of the styles having knives on head 
and cutting against shear plates, that 
with the cutting edge one outside of 
circle and cutting up is by far the best, 
and knives can be sharpened much 
easier, and if nicked the cutting edge 
will still be on circle. In the styles 
with knives on spokes of wheel, the 
great advantage of the one with knives 
on an angle toward the center is in the 
fact that the heaviest cut is made near 
the shaft of wheel instead of near rim, 
and it is very much easier to hold the 
knives firmly in place than on the re¬ 
verse kind. j. s. woodward. 
I am satisfied says every 
oa)/ierof 
Pittsburgh" Perfect ” Fence 
There is no test like the test of time. 
We can convince you by reasoning that the only electrically 
welded fence is the most economical, the most serviceable, and the 
most durable. By scientific tests we can prove that the wire is the 
strongest and best—for it is open hearth steel, not Bessemer, and it is 
galvanized by our own improved process. No clamps, ties or wraps— 
no waste wire for you to pay for. With most buyers these tests are not 
so satisfactory as the sincere and hearty endorsement given by those 
who have used and proved the fence. The 
the wires being electrically welded at every point of contact. If you know anybody who has 
“Pittsburgh Perfect” Fence—ask him. It’s sales are multiplied by the satisfaction of all who 
use it. Your dealer will refer you to some one who can tell you 
how it serves him. The purchase of a fence is an investment; time 
spent in making sure of the best will save you money. “Pittsburgh 
Perfect” Fences are made in 73 different styles for every fence 
purpose. Your dealer sells it. Write for free catalog. 
PITTSBURGH STEEL COMPANY, 
PITTSBURGH. PA. 
r CYie 
ONLY 
SATISFACTO 
L, JOINT . 
