1910. 
rri-lLC RURAL NEW-YORKE« 
11«1 
A WOMAN AND BABY CHICKS. 
As the Hope Farm man says, that 
is a difficult problem the Massachusetts 
woman who wants to go on a farm 
April 1 has handed him, on page 1120. 
As far as buying baby chicks goes, I 
am skeptical. It depends on two things, 
whether the stock is healthy, and the 
price one has to pay for the chicks... I 
bought 200 chicks last Spring, and 
while they traveled from Massachu¬ 
setts to New Jersey in splendid con¬ 
dition, and I never saw better looking 
chicks on their arrival at my farm, 50 
per cent of them died of white diarrhoea 
in a month, a disease I had never had 
on the place before. Others who have 
bought day-old chicks have had a sim¬ 
ilar experience. I think it a very risky 
way for a beginner to get stock. 
Secondly, if one is going to raise 
broilers one must not pay over 10 cents 
for the chicks unless more than a dollar 
a pair can be realized for the finished 
product. If I could buy baby chicks at 
10 cents and chicks which will live as 
well as those I raise myself, I would 
sell my incubators. Of course if you 
can get chicks for less than 10 cents 
so much the better, or if you can get 
$1.25 or $1.50 for a pair of broilers 
you can afford to pay a little more 
for the chicks. Also broilers must be 
from one of the American breeds, Reds, 
Rocks or Wyandottcs. But my advice 
to the Massachusetts woman would be 
to make eggs her principal crop and 
the broilers a side line. Starting in 
April first I would buy all the liens 
(I mean hens, too, not pullets,) I could 
afford and could care for. Hens at that 
time of year will lay as well as pullets 
and the first cost is or ought to be less. 
I would sell eggs and hatch chicks as 
the conditions seemed to warrant. Now 
I am convinced, all the poultry systems 
to the contrary notwithstanding, that 
the time to make hens pay a profit is 
the Summer time. There is more monev 
in eggs at 25 cents in April than at 50 
cents in December. One can hardly 
lose on eggs in the Summer. Then on 
the first of October I would sell every 
bird on the place, unless it was a few 
for my own table. They ought to bring 
from the butcher in the Fall almost 
as much as they cost to buy in the 
Spring, and you would have had a 
profit on their eggs meanwhile. Also 
there would be the profit from the in¬ 
crease, and I would sell the cockerels 
as broilers and the pullets for stock. 
There is always a demand for pullets 
in the Fall. Of course all this depends 
on being able to buy to advantage in 
the Spring. In fact the whole scheme 
is based on the possession of a consid¬ 
erable amount of marketing or business 
ability. 
Now a host of poultry experts will 
rise up to say that Winter eggs can be 
produced if you know how, and anyone 
who goes out of the business in Win¬ 
ter is no true poultryman. Well, T have 
boarded hens and pullets, too, through 
October and November a good manv 
years, and sometimes f made it up and 
sometimes T didn’t. Anyway T am will¬ 
ing to let the experts make that money. 
I’m not greedy. I would rather sell 
those pullets in the Fall for them to 
make money on in the Winter than 
make it myself. And I think when the 
balance is struck at the end of the year 
my system will show up just as well 
as the other way. c. T. H. 
New Jersey. 
WHAT IS “GUFF?” 
Here is a Choice Specimen. 
The It. N.-Y. now and then makes use of 
the word “guff,” usually in speaking of 
people who make extravagant or foolish 
statements. What does It mean? Can you 
give me an example of what you consider 
“guff?” j. L. II. 
We take pleasure in replying. The 
word "guff” is not original with us. 
It means extravagant or plausible lan¬ 
guage intended to deceive or allure peo¬ 
ple by making great pretensions or pro¬ 
testations of friendship. Mr. F.. G. 
Lewis is one of the best manufacturers 
of "guff” that we have in this country. 
He is an entire factory of it. The gen¬ 
tleman who promotes the "Lava” fertil¬ 
izer is another. We will take for an 
example, however, extracts from let¬ 
ters written by one A. C. Gilbertson, of 
Towa, who is booming a new raspberry. 
His letters are prize packages of pure 
unadulterated “guff.” You answer his 
advertisement and receive a long type¬ 
written document of some 3,000 words. 
You may think this eloquent man has 
spent a lot of his valuable time on you, 
but if you look at' his letter closely 
you will find that it is a printed cir¬ 
cular, even to the signature, lie has 
simply written your name in at the top. 
The man who peddles out “guff” us¬ 
ually deprecates his own ability, and 
like Uriah Heep, is very ’umble. Our 
friend Gilbertson starts off in this style: 
I am not much of a letter writer, that is 
not my line of work, and you won’t find 
any smooth salesman's talk. 1 am a grower 
and breeder of special crops, and I want to 
talk to you, a grower or land owner, about 
how 1 make my own high-priced land pay; 
something I know you will he interested In. 
Gilbertson does himself an injustice. 
Smooth? An oiled eel swimming in a 
tub would faint with envy at this gen¬ 
tleman’s talk on raspberries. This let¬ 
ter talks about your wife and children, 
because it is all printed. You may not 
have any family, but Gilbertson pays 
you the compliment of assuming you 
have. After about 1500 eloquent words 
he stops for breath and says: 
Well say, I didn’t think this letter was 
oing to be anywhere near this long when 
started out. but if you knew what these 
berries are and tin 1 money that my fields 
have paid me in fruit you wouldn't blame 
me for saying so much about them and 
being so anxious for you to have some 
of these berries for your own use. 
As you are not there to deny it, Gil¬ 
bertson starts off once more, and gives 
six reasons why you ought to have his 
berry. Then he comes again: 
Do you know I hate to close this letter, 
although it is pretty long, because I don't 
know whether I have made it interesting to 
you or not. I would like to meet you and 
talk with you about this berry, and would 
like to have you look at my farm record 
book, which shows what I have received 
from selling this fruit. And I would like to 
have you and your folks eat of some of 
these berries. If you could do tills you 
certainly would send me au order for some 
of these plants. 
Of course he hates to “close this let¬ 
ter.” It is a printed circular, but the 
manufacturer of "guff” is in love with 
his own words either as a hot roast or 
as hash. 
The man who got this “letter” never 
paid any attention to it, but Gilbertson's 
“guff” is hard to keep out of the house. 
A month later along came another let¬ 
ter of 1200 more words. T his is also 
printed, but is addressed to “Mr. and 
Mrs. H.”—“Dear Folks.” Here we 
have what we call the essence of “guff.” 
I'll write you both this trip, and would 
like to drop in some time and talk to yo \ 
Not like a salesman, because I am n t 
much of a salesman anyway, so my wife 
says, but just stop to get acquaint! d. 
Get acquainted? Within 10 minut 'S 
that man would be so much at horn • 
that lie could cut himself a piece of 
pie in the pantry and help himself to a 
doughnut, lie would be singing to the 
children and helping wipe the dishes m 
an hour. Can you possibly beat the 
following ? 
1 was talking this over with my wife last 
night, was telling her how well everybody 
spoke of our book, and how most everybody 
that got one had ordered enough rasp¬ 
berry plants to furnish fruit for their 
own table use, and more people ordered 
enough plants for large Helds than 1 had 
expected. You know how the women are, 
she said. “I told you so,” like they all do, 
and she also said ”1 believe all the other 
folks would order too If they knew you 
and knew they would get Just what they 
ordered and not be disappointed, for you 
know, A. ('. (she calls me A. ('. when we 
haven't companyl, people usually buy plants 
of nursery salesmen. Remember yoh paid 
as high ns .$1 a plant for some raspberry 
plants once, and got just ordinary rasp¬ 
berry plants. That was before you worked 
out and perfected your improved red rasp¬ 
berry. Ain,v be other folks have had the 
same experience.” 
Now that, in our opinion, is a classic. 
We can give no better illustration of 
business “guff” which is exactly calcu¬ 
lated to get the unwary. We can give 
no better advice than to cut out all 
correspondence with people who talk to 
you like a loving brother when they 
have something to sell. A raspberry or 
a horse or a machine that is stuffed 
with “guff” is the most expensive thing 
you can buy. As for the raspberry 
mentioned bv Gilbertson we can find no 
one who has tried it, and we certainly 
would not pay 25 cents each for it. If 
you do, Gilbertson will get about 300 
cents of the consumer’s dollar. 
Hot Sweet Potato Union. —It seems 
that the trusts hit farm products at both 
ends of the line. The sweet potato grow¬ 
ers have trouble to get a fair price for 
their crop, but they are not the only ones. 
In this city there are about 1.O0O peddlers 
who sell hot sweet potatoes to the school 
children. These potatoes are heated in 
little stoves which are owned and con¬ 
trolled bv a trust, and will not be sold. 
The peddlers pay from 40 to 50 cents a day 
for the rent of the stoves, and even as 
high as 75 cents when trade is brisk. The 
potatoes they have been buying at markets 
where they could get them cheapest. Now 
the stove renters are insisting that the 
peddlers buy the potatoes of them or go 
without tin 1 stoves and at prices which the 
peddlers say are higher than those prevail¬ 
ing at the markets. The result is that 
the sweet potato men are threatening to 
form a union and declare a strike. You 
will see that this is, on a small scale just 
what tin* trusts are doing all over. As 
this combination controls tin* stoves they 
expect to use this control to get more for 
the sweet potatoes. 
Double GIelss Szxslv 
for Hot-beds 
and Cold-frames 
Less Work— 
Better, Earlier Crops 
Sunlight Double Glass Sash reduces 
to a minimum the labor connected 
with hot-bed and cold-frame gardening. 
You never have to cover Sunlight 
Double Glass Sash 
All the hard work of handling and the expense of 
buying lies'- boaols and mats—all the time spent 
in covering and uncovering the beds are eliminated. 
The double layer of glass does it 
(See diagram above.) 
Between the two layers is a %inch layer of dry 
still air—a transparent blanket that is better than mats 
or boards because it never shuts out the light. The 
plants gets all th« light all the the time. As 
a result, they will 
grow faBtcr and be¬ 
come sturdier, will be 
ready for the market 
earlier and bring the 
big prices. 
Glass is held in 
place without putty. 
Can’t work loose, 
easily replaced 
Agents Wanted 
Write us for details. 
Get these two books 
Onn in our froo catalog giving nil tho dotalla of tboSniih un<l of 
our fruight projmid and gwnnwito»M| delivery propoHitioii. Tho 
other in ii book on hot-bodH and cold-f rum on by I*rof. MaHtuiy. 
nn authority on the Hubjoct. Thin book in of vital into rout to 
ovory nrofoMBionnl icrowor find tlorint. 4o. in atampa will bring 
I'rof. Mauuoy’n book in addition to tho catulog. 
SUNLIGHT DOUBLE GLASS SASH COMPANY, INC. 
924 East Broadway. LOUISVILLE, KY. 
Arthur Vnndonnoi, Pt. Marlon, Pn., writem: **I had lettuce 
undur Sunlight Sash beforo most pooplu wore thinking about 
Bowing it." 
—Hill 1 I■ W— 
A WONDERFUL FARM TOOL 
CLARK’S 'Tappf DOUBLE ACTION CULTI¬ 
VATOR AND HAR¬ 
ROW. The most won¬ 
derful farm tool ever in¬ 
vented. Two barrows 
in one. Throws the dirt 
out, then in, leaving the 
land level and true. A 
labor saver, a time saver, 
a crop maker. Perfect centre draft, jointed pole. 
Beware of imitations and infringements. Send today 
for FREE Booklet, “ Intensive Cultivation.” 
CUTAWAY HARROW CO. 
839 Main St., Higgantim Conn. 
—Power you can 
depend on, power 
tor 100 uses, 
power that is 
cheaper and bet¬ 
ter for you—is 
the old reliable 
proven ]>er- 
fect Kef fel 
Steam Purine. 
Simple, dur¬ 
st! re and safe. 
ff Steam Engines 
wLmsSm I Cr m and Boilers 
everywhere. Let us send you Free Hook- 
s Power." Write postal now to 
JAMES LEFFEL & COMPANY 
^50^ Springfield, Ohio 
JACOBSON 
SELF-CONTAINED ENGINE WITH AUTOMATIC DRAINING 
WATER TANK. 
No Freezing No OvcrheulliiK 
No Large Water Tank 
Tho Agency is available in some sections and 
vulunblo in all. 
JACOBSON MACHINE MFC. CO. 
Ill Irvine Street 
Warren,Pa. 
J 
WM. H. PRAT, 
ICE PLOWS. 
Doable row, equals 20 men 
1th saws. Pays for itself 
rstseason, fi sizes, also Ice 
Ask for Catalog B. 
: VliHliANK, N. Y. 
Wit ex you write advertisers mention Tin; 
It. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” Sec guarantee page 10. 
A HARNESS 
THAT OUTL IVES THE 
HORSE 
m vY^s; 
f&.M \1 
.rvMi-s&Bl 
Our catalogue accurately illustrates over 
75 Styles of harness for all purposes. Prices 
arc wholesale—saves SI 0 to 415 on every harness. 
Only best oak-tanned leather is used, livery harness 
guaranteed for five years Catalogue F free. 
King Harnuss Co„ G Lake St, Owego, Tioga Co., N. i 
EMPIRE FENCE 
Got tho gcnulno EMPIRE big 
wlro fonco, direct, at wholesale. 
Have dealer’s profits. 
Big Factory, Big 
Sales, 23 Styles 
No traveling salesmen, small 
expense, prices low. Every- 
„ r thlng guaranteed. Freo samples by 
mall. Prices of leading styles freight pre¬ 
paid to all points north of tho Ohio and 
east of tho Mississippi River:— 
WIroa lnohoflhtgh Medium Wolght Extra heavy (all No. 0 ) 
0 80 23c per rod 37c per rod 
10 47 2fle per rod 41e per rod 
12 65 82c per rod 40c per rod 
Special rates beyond tills territory. 
BOND STEEL POST CO., 23 E. Mauace St., Adrian, Mich. 
Rust Proof - Bull Strong 
Pences for horses, cattle, sheep, 
bogs, chickens, etc. 160 styles. 
BARGAIN PRICES: 
14 Cents Per Rod Up. 
We pay the freight. Lawn Pences 
and Gates. Free catalog and sample. 
The Brown Fence & Wire Co., 
DEPT. 59 CLEVELAND, OHIO 
48IN. F ™ c „ E 25c 
Best high carbon coiled steel 
wire. Kasy to stretch over 
hills and hollows, i* REE 
Catalog—fences, tools. Buy 
from factory at wholesale 
prices. Write today to Box 67, 
MASON PENCE CO., LEESBURG, O. 
price $00 and Up 
Hertzler & Zook 
Portable Wood Saw 
Fully Guaranteed for One Year 
sawing firewood, lumber, lath, posts, 
etc., for yourself and neighbors with a 
' 
Tho Hertzler & Zook Is the cheapest and best 
saw you can buy. Direct factory prices—finest 
tested materials. Easier than 
Other saws to operate because 
the stick sits low and tho 
saw draws it on as soon 
ns you start work. It Is 
the only saw made, sell- 
Ingat $10, to which a l ipping 
table can be added. Write for 
circular and save money. 
Hertzler A Zook Co.. Box 3 
ItallevlJle, I’a. 
W1?I ¥ drilling 
VI Li Li Li MACHINES 
Over 70 sizes nnd styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells 111 any kinder soil or rock. Mounted on 
wheels or on sills. Wlthenglneaorhoree powers. Strong, 
simple and durable. Any mechanic can operate them 
easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca. N. Y. 
Standard Among Drilling Machine! 
Tho oldest established manufacturers, the largest 
line of drilling machines and tools, and 41 years 
of successful operation In nearly every country 
jn the world, make 
American Drilling Machines 
Standard tho world over. 
For every possible condition of earth 
and rock drilling and mineral pros¬ 
pecting wo make a drill espe¬ 
cially designed for tho re¬ 
quirement. 
Catalog No, 105, tho most 
complete “drill hole” catalog 
over Issued, h’ree. 
The American Well Works 
General Office and Works, 
Aurora, Ill. 
Chicago Office: First Na¬ 
tional Bank Bldg. 
With PALMER ICE and 
HAY HOIST 
suitable for fill 
kinds of hoist¬ 
ing. Price, 
$30.00 
.six Horso Power Gas- 
oline Engines, $ 120 . 00 . 
Catalogue Free 
Bros., Cos Cob, Conn. 
I 
Have Ice and Keep Cool 
IT COSTS BUT T.ITTDK AND IS A GREAT 
LUXURY—WHITE FOR PAMPBLETAE, 
“HO ir TO CUT ICE ” 
HUDSON, N. Y. ARLINGTON, MASS. 
123 NO. JEFFERSON STREET. CHICAGO, ILL. 
