1914. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
677 
SELECTING THE BREEDERS. 
The time is at hand for mating up the 
breeding pens on the farm. The poultry- 
men and fanciers will have done this be¬ 
fore now, as their season begins early, 
but most farmers do not care to hatch 
before late April and early May, after 
the weather has become settled and the 
chicks require less care. If no selection 
other than that of eggs is made, little 
or no improvement can be expected in the 
farm flock. Mediocrity will perpetuate 
mediocrity, and no improvement in size, 
type, or productivity need be looked for. 
Farmers cannot trap-nest, and must de¬ 
pend upon some other method for selec¬ 
tion of breeders. It will usually be pos¬ 
sible to give a few hens an enclosure 
apart from the rest of the flock for a few 
weeks in the Spring, until the needed 
eggs for hatching have been secured. It 
may be taken for granted that only pure¬ 
bred fowls will be hatched this Spring, 
for, whatever may be said for or against 
mongrels in other stock, there is no need 
for anyone, nowadays, to keep mongrel 
Runway For Chicks. 
poultry. Careful experiment has shown 
that there is nothing gained by it, and 
the objections are obvious. Flocks of 
purebred fowls are so numerous and 
widespread that it should be possible for 
any farmer to obtain eggs from the breed 
of his choice and maintain his stock pure. 
It is not necessary, or even advisable, 
frequently to introduce new blood, and 
the old practice of changing cockerels 
with the neighbors every year should be 
given up. With careful selection of the 
breeders, choosing the strong, vigorous 
members of the flock, one should be able 
to build up a flock superior to those of 
his neighbors, and one which would only 
suffer by having their blood intermingled. 
In selecting a cockerel to place in the 
breeding pen choose one t at shows his 
vigor in his every action. lie should 
have a bloeky head, with short beak, 
bright full eyes, full comb and proud 
carriage. lie should be of good size for 
his breed, “scrappy” to the point of in¬ 
solence, generous to the hens, but an 
overbearing bully among his brethren. 
If he thinks that he can “lick” his mas¬ 
ter, so much the better. Not having been 
compelled yet to acknowledge the equality 
of the other sex, there is . u air of mas¬ 
culine strength and superiority about 
vigorous males among the lower animals 
that is easier to see than describe. 
Equal attention should be paid to vigor 
in the hens, for a hen that can’t live 
can’t lay. The hens that go into the 
breeding pen should be of good size, and 
layers of large eggs. A large egg means 
a large chick; this is the chief point in 
Gasolene Tank On Brooder. 
favor of using hens instead of pullets for 
breeders. Another one is that hens have 
demonstrated their ability to live through 
a full period of laying and pullets have 
not. A well-developed pullet will produce 
good chicks, however, and need not be 
discarded if enough hens are not at hand. 
Most people think that the laying type 
in hens means a long-bodied fowl, with 
wide spread legs and deep abdomen. As 
a dairy cow shows something of her 
capacity for production in the size of her 
paunch, so, in some measure, may a hen. 
A good laying hen, like a good working¬ 
man, is an early riser, but late in retir¬ 
ing. She is eager to begin eating in the 
morning and loth to quit at night. If she 
has made a good record during her first 
year, she will have begun laying early 
and molting late; and the pretty yellow 
legs that she began with will have faded 
out. Note that the useful femajes are 
seldom the pretty ones; among hens, I 
mean. It is now believed that prolificacy 
is transmitted through the male; so if 
you have a hen that you know is an 
extra good layer, mark her chicks and 
choose the best of them, if all right other¬ 
wise, to head your breeding pen. 
M. B. D. 
BOSTON MARKET REVIEW. 
The greenhouse people who ship or 
sell their products to Boston are receiv¬ 
ing a fair return for their trouble at this 
time. The frost damage in the South has 
helped them very much in obtaining pro¬ 
fitable prices for their product; their 
dandelions bring around $2 per box; beet 
greens $1.50 to $1.75; lettuce up to 
$1.50 per box, with romaine, escarole 
and chicory 75 to $1 per box; tomatoes 
50 cents and better per pound. Southern 
spinach sells at a good figure, going at 
$3.50 per barrel; kale bringing up to 
$1.75. California asparagus is reason¬ 
able at $3 to $4.50 per dozen ; cauliflower 
$2.50 per crate; celery $1.50 and $2 per 
dozen. Southern green and wax beans 
$3.50 and $5 per basket. Cabbage $2.50 
per crate. 
Strawberries reasonable at 25 to 35 per 
box; oranges $3.75 and better per box 
for best, other grades $2 to $3. West 
India pineapples $3.50 and $4 per crate. 
Grapefruit $2.25 up to $4 per box; lem¬ 
ons $2.75 to $4. California oranges $1.50 
to $2.50 per small box. The few cran¬ 
berries left, go at $13.50 and $14 per bar¬ 
rel and $5 per box. Best bananas $3 
per bunch. Others $1.25 and $2.25 for 
yellows; reds $2 to $4.50 per bunch. 
Native old cabbage $1 to $1.50 per 
barrel; rutabagas $2 per bag; White 
Egg $1.25 per bushel. Beets $1.50 per 
bushel; carrots $1; parsnips $1,25; rad¬ 
ish $2. Native onions are getting poor 
and are being closed out if possible, to 
get a reasonable offer, $2.50 and $3 per 
bag of 100 pounds usually takes them. 
Cuban and Mexican stock bring $3.25 or 
more per crate. Those who have some 
good sound squash left are happy, as it 
is no trouble to move them for $80 per 
ton. The Southern frosts again affect 
the potato market, giving the holders of 
Maine stock a chance to stiffen prices a 
bit when the demand is on as at present 
for planting. These bring $1.55 to $1.70 
per bag of two bushels; Southern sweets 
$1 per basket. Cucumbers are easy at 
$S per box for best and range down 
to $3.50 for poorest grade. 
The apple market is good on fancy 
fruits, but demand is limited, as other 
fruits are plenty at a lower figure. Best 
Baldwins easily bring $5.50 to $6 per 
barrel; others $3.50 to $4.50. Good 
Russets go at $3.50 to $4.50; common 
native box fruit $2. Western fancy box 
fruit around $4 for Winter Banana and 
Delicious, with Rome Beauty and Spitz- 
enburg $2.50 to $3. Exports, which have 
been almost half those of last season, 
are about over. 
Baking bean prices are medium, pea 
beaus $2.10 per bushel. Yellow eye $3.25 [ 
and kidney about the same or a few | 
units lower. 
Butter is still dropping, having lost 
about one-half cent per pound this week, 
with best Northern creamery going at 28 
to 29 in tubs, boxes and prints about one 
cent per pound more. Best western 27 
and 28; good to fair butter brings 24 to 
20. Cheese holds its own better than 
butter, bringing 19 and 20 for last Fall 
stock, others 17% to 20. 
Eggs are about at their lowest ebb, 
yet reports of storing are not heavy. 
Their being about the cheapest article of 
food at present is generally known, and 
advantage taken of it by retail buyers 
and users. Best fresh bring 24 and 25; 
good 22 and 23. Live poultry trade is j 
good and prices excellent; some bring 
IS and better per pound. The bulk, 
however, bring 10 and 17; medium size , 
are wanted and bring best prices. 
Dressed fowl and chickens about 20 cents 
per pound; roosters 15; capons 25 to 28; 
turkeys 18 to 24. 
At Brighton market beef on hoof goes 
at $7.50 to $8.50 per hundred pounds for 
best grades; others G% and seven cents, 
while poorer grades bring four to five. 
Sheep and lambs light supply, prices 
easy at four to six for sheep and six to 
eight for lambs. Veal calves eight; 
western hogs nine to 9Vi ; dressed hogs 
up to 11%. 
Milch cows plenty for demand, which 
is now moderate; prices range from $50 
to $75 for ordinary stock, extra good ones 
higher. Calfskins about 22 per pound; 
cow hides 12; steer 13. Horse sales are 
moving along satisfactorily and prices 
are better for seller than buyer. Farm- i 
ers are reported buying largely of me- ! 
dium- weights for reason of lower cost 
and good ability to do work required; 
1,800 to 1,900-pound horses bring $350 
to $450. if sound, some even better; me¬ 
diums $250 to $350; common and light 
weights $175 and $225 each. 
Hay holds about the same at $22.50 
per ton for best, other grades $15 to $21. 
Grains are higher or inclined that way 
at wholesale: meal $1.50 per bag; bran 
$30 to $31.75 per ton; middlings $31; 
mixed feed $30 and $32; cottonseed meal 
$32 and $33; linseed $32.50; beet pulp 
$27; gluten $32. a. e. p. 
Two Poultry Wrinkles. 
The picture shows a new position for 
gasoline tank on Cornell brooder, which 
I find handy in filling. With tank low 
down the stepladder is eliminated and 
danger from spilling and fire is lessened. 
The other picture shows an improved 
runway for chicks, which I find works 
well. It has no corners at base, and 
the little fellows always find their way 
back to brooder. m. E. k. 
Kingston, R. I. 
Sher win- Williams 
Make them artistic, easily cleaned and sanitary. Unsightly 
scars, dirt-catching scratches can’t be covered up with stain— 
these things need Paint! And you or anyone can paint them 
easily and quickly by following die directions given with 
Sherwin-Williams inside floor paint 
Compounded first for extra durability and next for quick drying. For this reason, stands 
harder usage than any other paint under similar drying conditions, es proven by great 
railroads and steamship companies. Can be walked on in twenty-four hours if necessary. 
This handsome, extra durable paint is only one of a great family of artistic finishes 
described in our book, “Paints and Varnishes for the Farm. Send for this book 
today— it’s free. 
Best dealers everywhere. Address all inquiries to 
The Sherwin-Williams Company,635 Carnal Road, Cleveland, Ohio 
5 NT 4 
PLOOH FINISHES 
THE 
rROOF 
is not the one that can be bought at t lie lowest price—usually it is the most expensive 
roof you can buy. Cheap roofs made of paper and tar may be good enough for some 
temporary shed or outbuilding; but for a permanent, building it is economy to put a per¬ 
manent one over it one that will stand the heat of summer as well as the snow and ice 
of winter—a roof that the owner can feel confident will protect the building and its 
contents from damage, this year, next year and 25 years from now 
“RAIN-TIGHT” RUBBER ROOFING 
fill all the requirements. And there's a reason for its durability—it is made of Trinidad Lake 
Asphalt which is the standard of the world. You know bow asphalt pavements withstand the 
pounding of horses hoot's and heavy traffic on city streets. What wonder then if the same material 
made into roofing is well nigh indestructible and everlasting. 
Our brand of “Perfect Roofing” is the same as “Rain-Tight” with mica flakes 
added to the surface which make it tire resisting It is a non-conductor of heat and 
lightning and insures against fire from sparks falling on the roof. 
Perfect Rosin Sized Sheathing and Perfect Tarred Felt are Best for Sheathing Purposes 
, It you need a new roof for liny building, now or in the future, 
it will pay you to send for samples and booklet—write us today. 
MAURICE O’MEARA CO., 448 Pearl Street, New York City I 
D 
ON’T think of buying any Hay Carriers until 
you see the new 1914 Model HARVESTERS. 
They’re at least one year ahead of ordinary 
kinds both in mechanical improvements and 
strength. Double the size and twice the weight of 
old-fashioned, everyday fork carriers. Simple 
and strong—practically no repair expense. 
Harvester easier, 
1914 Models—for Steel, 
Wood or Cable Track 
This Is Yours 
This Hay 
Tool 
free 
asking 
Book is 
for the 
and is 
well worth hav¬ 
ing. Write for iL 
Made in three types — sling or* 
fork style. Eleven new and distinct 
improvements make them mechanically 
perfect. No matter where you unload 
your hay. the Harvester will handle it 
without re-roping or changing pulleys. 
You won't consider old-fashioned hay 
carriers after seeing the Harvester. 
Our big “Hay Tool Book” tells the whole 
story. Let us send it. Well include the name of a dealer in your 
All Guaranteed 
STAR Stalls, Stanch¬ 
ions, Utter and Feed 
Carriers. Harvester 
Hay Tools . STAR 
Hoists. Cannon hall 
Haturers. etc. JFrifa 
for details. 
town who will gladly show you the Harvester Line for 1914. 
HUNT, HELM, FERRIS & CO., 53 Hunt St., Harvard, 111. 
When you write advertisers mention The R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply 
and a “square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
