844 
THE RUKAb NEW-YORKER 
June 20, 1915. 
known as the “sand viper,” “puff adder,” 
“hiss adder,” or “blow adder.” It ig 
unique in putting up a “bluff,” in which 
it mimics the actions of venomous ser¬ 
pents, and presents a truly terrifying ap¬ 
pearance. It is perfectly harmless, how¬ 
ever ; and in iny experience, have never 
had one even try to bite. The snake 
feeds upon toads and frogs, so it is hard¬ 
ly to be considered beneficial. 
The only venomous snakes in the East, 
north of Virginia, are the copperhead and 
the rattlesnake. The former attains an 
average length of three feet. It is usual¬ 
ly light brown in color with crossbands 
of rich, dark brown. The copper-col¬ 
ored head gives the snake its name. The 
rattlesnake that is common in the East 
is the banded or timber rattlesnake. This 
serpent is about four feet long; either 
black, or sulphur-yellow or olive with 
dark bands. Of course the rattle on the 
tail characterizes it at once. Both these 
reptiles are very dangerous to man, and 
should be exterminated. It is rare that 
they are troublesome in settled districts. 
If war against them is vigorously pur¬ 
sued, they can be almost exterminated. 
It is the habit of these snakes to hiber¬ 
nate in the same place year after year, 
returning from considerable distances for 
the purpose. A cleft in a rocky ledge or 
an abandoned quarry is a favorite place. 
The reptiles can be seen sunning them¬ 
selves at the entrance of such “snake 
dens” in the warm Autumn sun, and can 
be killed with a shotgun. I have read 
of an instance where a large rattlesnake 
was caught at such a den, and after ty¬ 
ing a stick of dynamite with a long fuse 
to his tail, was allowed to crawl into 
the recesses. Sometime later, a muffled 
report told that something had happened 
inside. Whether such methods would be 
effective is a matter of conjecture. 
Doubtless the killing of every venomous 
snake seen would be the^ most effective 
way to reduce their number. 
It is much to be hoped that farmers 
will overcome their aversion to snakes, 
and protect those which are of benefit. 
There are books about snakes, which are 
neither technical nor expensive, but are 
accurate and interesting. Doubtless The 
R. N.-Y. would be glad to recommend 
them to its readers. 
R. L. SCHARRING-IIANSEN. 
To Apple Growers of New York State 
You are producing a quality of apples 
second to none in the world; but in¬ 
ferior apples from other sections get the 
preference in both movement and prices 
in the New York market. When lax-ge 
dealers advance money on inferior ap¬ 
ples they are not disposed to encourage 
the sale of your fruit, until the Western 
apples are marketed and the money ad¬ 
vanced is again in the pocket of the 
dealer, with the added bonus. 
The consumption of New York State 
apples is restricted in the early Win¬ 
ter by high retail prices. This causes 
a sluggish market and keeps wholesale 
prices low. In the meantime dealers get 
out and buy at the low quotations from 
producers, and prices begin to stiffen as 
soon as the bulk of the fruit is out of 
the hands of producers. 
To ovei'come these conditions you need 
an open market from one end of the sea¬ 
son to the other to establish a price. 
When this price is established in New 
York, it will also be the price for the 
other cities and for your local sales. 
Every grower who sells on the ground 
will appreciate the value of such a quo¬ 
tation. The prices in New Yoi’k are 
the prices for the whole country. You 
are entitled to the price apples will bring 
you on an open market, when sold sub¬ 
ject to the law of supply and demand, 
without manipulation or prejudice. No 
one can ask more. No grower or ship¬ 
per can be satisfied with less. 
The New York State Department of 
Foods and Markets is making arrange¬ 
ments to open a free auction market in 
the City of New York, which will es¬ 
tablish an honest price for New York 
State apples for every day from October 
1st to the close of the season. Every 
day during the season it is proposed to 
auction apples in the heart of the city’s 
apple market This will establish the 
price for New York State apples. No 
commission house will dare return less 
than the auction price to the shipper. 
There will be protests and attempts at 
manipulation for a short time, but ul¬ 
timately all apples in the New York mar¬ 
ket will be sold at auction, and you will 
get more money for them. 
These apples will be sold in the morn¬ 
ing, and an accouut-of-sales, with check, 
will be on the way to the shipper befoi’e 
night. The auctioneer will be licensed 
by the Department, and a representative 
of the State will take a record of every 
sale. The returns will be official. For 
the first time in the history of the State 
apple shippers will be sure of a square 
deal in the New York market. 
One of the essentials of a successful 
auction market is a steady supply dur¬ 
ing the season. Buyers must know that 
the goods will be there and that the sale 
will take place. To accomplish the de¬ 
sired results it will be necessary to have 
absolute control of S00 carloads of 
graded apples. They may be either 
boxed or barreled, and graded under the 
State law. To make nxe market a suc¬ 
cess and get the right prices from the 
start, the trade must know r that the sup¬ 
ply will be regular and sure. The State 
will see that they are sold on the square, 
and that the shipper gets what the buy¬ 
ers pay, less the freight and the actual 
selling charges. 
The plan would be to form an informal 
Apple Shippei's’ Club in shipping cen¬ 
tres with a secretary to assemble the 
apples in car lots, and be in touch with 
the Department so as to arrange for 
shipments. Each association may ap¬ 
point a representative to act as a mem¬ 
ber of an advisory committee to advise 
the Department and help direct the 
work. If shippers desire the service the 
Department will reserve cold storage 
space, and look after their intei'ests in 
the city. 
The Department pi’oposes to increase 
the consumption of State apples in the 
New York City market by canvassing 
the retail trade, and influencing the re¬ 
tailers to keep a constant supply of State 
apples on sale at reasonable prices, and 
to make proper display of them. At¬ 
tractive illustrated signs will be furnished 
the retailers to advertise New York State 
apples. It is believed that apples packed 
in cheap peck cartons, in various grades, 
and also in ungraded varieties, would 
greatly increase the consumption in New 
York, and plans are maturing to try this 
out during the coming apple season. An 
effort will be made to find a market for 
apples that have heretofore rotted on the 
ground. 
How many barrels will you pledge on 
these terms to be sold on this plan in this 
open auction market? 
joiin j. dillon, Commissioner, 
New York State Department 
of Foods & Markets. 
71 West 23rd St., New York. 
Prolonging Life of Files. 
I would like to know what to do with 
old files that are worn out. j. E. D. 
Niles, Mich. 
To secure the best service from a file 
it must be properly used and cared for. 
The file is a cutting tool of the finest 
kind, and as such is entitled to the best 
of use and care. It is not uncommon to 
find a farmer’s files thrown loosely into a 
box with other files, rivets, bolts and 
scraps of metal. Such use ruins them. 
A file cuts by means of a series of little 
knives or cutting edges that are l’aised 
upon its surface. These are inclined 
toward the slim end of a file, and each 
pares off a little shaving of metal as the 
file is pushed forward. Their action is 
comparable to that of a plane, only in 
the plane tiiei’e is but one cutting edge, 
while in the ordinary 10-inch file there are 
40 to 50 of them to the inch. These 
edges are very hard and brittle, and the 
misuse above outlined ruins them by 
chipping and bx-eaking them off. When 
a box of new files is bought each will be 
found wrapped in a piece of paper, pro¬ 
tecting it from its fellows. If the user 
will take the same precaution, hang them 
up when not in use, or by some other 
means keep them from being thrown in 
with a lot of metal—in fact take the 
same care of them that, he would of other 
edged tools, for they are edged tools and 
the sooner this is recognized the better 
for the files—he will do much to pro- 
long their life. 
Another point in prolonging the life of 
a file is to use it the whole length. The 
file should be run clear from point to 
heel at each stroke. This makes use of 
every one of the cutting edges, and se¬ 
cures more wear from the file. To do 
this it is necessary to have a handle. A 
wooden file handle can be bought for a 
few cents that will be much more conven¬ 
ient to use than the piece of corncob that 
is often found performing this service. 
The file cuts only on the forward or 
push stroke, and no pressure should be 
used on it on the return stroke as this 
breaks off the cutting edges. It should 
be lifted from the metal and only placed 
in contact during the forward stroke. 
In such work as saw filing, where the 
edge is narrow, and only a short section 
of the file is in contact with the metal 
being filed, no pressure should be used, 
or the file will grip the metal so hard 
that the cutting edges will be chipped and 
broken. On broader work, where more 
of the edges are engaged, more pressure 
can be brought to bear without injury to 
the file. Do not attempt to file hardened 
steel, and if cast iron is to be filed re¬ 
move outside portion with an old file 
before using a new file on it. 
To do good work files should be kept 
clean; filings fill the grooves between the 
cutting edges and keep them from engag¬ 
ing the work. A stiff brush of fine wire 
called a file card, is almost a necessity 
in keeping them free from filings. Fil¬ 
ings that stick too tightly to be removed 
by the card can be cleaned out by using 
the flattened end of a stiff wii’e. Some¬ 
times a file that seems to be worn out 
will take on a new lease of life after be* 
ing thoroughly cleaned. 
It is probable that J. E. D. wishes 
to know what can be done to secure the 
greatest amount of service from his files 
and I have tided to outline methods of 
care and use that will do this. When a 
file is really worn out about the only 
thing left to do with it is to throw it 
away. Of course old files are made over 
into butcher knives, drills, etc., but I 
understand J. E. D. to ask what can be 
done to a file to secure the greatest ser¬ 
vice from it in the capacity of a file. 
Sometimes worn files are treated in a 
bath of sulphuric acid to sharpen them. 
On taking them from the acid they should 
be well washed to prevent the further 
action of the acid, and the addition of 
some alkali to the wash water is a 
further aid to checking its action. The 
most pronounced effect of the acid is to 
clean up a dirty file, eating the filings 
from between the cutting edges. While 
this may secure a little more wear from 
the file, proper use and care will do much 
more towai’d securing the maximum 
amount of work from it. Treat it as 
carefully as you would any other fine 
tool. r. n. s. 
Muck Soils. —We are constantly re¬ 
ceiving letters from people who say they 
have a muck swamp, either drained or 
undrained, which they wish to utilize. 
Most of these people have gained the idea 
that these low muck lands are always 
rich, and they want to know how to han¬ 
dle them to the best advantage. Several 
of the experiment stations have handled 
this matter in one way and another, and 
now the Michigan Experiment Station, 
at East Lansing, has issued Bulletin No. 
273 on the “Utilization of Muck Lands.” 
It is an excellent bulletin, giving not 
only a description and analysis of such 
soils, but telling how to use them to the 
best advantage. Michigan was originally 
-what might be called a muck State, the 
lower part in particular being damp and 
wet, until the lands were drained and 
the forest cut away so as to let in the 
sunshine. Scattered all over Southern 
Michigan are great deposits of swamp 
soil or muck, and wonderful use has been 
made of them in the production of celery, 
onions, and other valuable crops. This 
bulletin tells the stoi’y well, and anyone 
interested in studying such soils will be 
interested in reading this pamphlet. 
Mrs. High (very English) : “Bridget, 
see if the brougham (she pronounces it 
broom) is at the dooi\” Bridget: “And 
what would ye be wantin’ wid the broom, 
mum?” Mi’s. High: “I am going out to 
ride.” Bridget (sotto voce) : “Oeh, 
murther, it’s a witch she is, to be ridin’ 
out on a broom ! I’ll be after lavin’, to 
find service wid a decent family.”—Wom¬ 
an’s Journal. 
When you write advertisei’s mention 
The R. N.-Y. and you'll get a quick 
reply and a “square deal.” See guax-an- 
tee editorial page. : : : : 
Guaranteed Genuine 
f > • Everlasting AIT 1 f 
Grimm Alfalfa 
Produces plants with large branching roots which 
resist winter conditions. Leafier and of better 
feeding value than other varieties. 
Booklet, “How I Discovered The Grimm Alfalfa”, 
and sample free. Will also send testimonials from 
patrons in your locality. 
A. B. Lyman, Grimm Alfalfa Introducer 
Alfalfadale Farm, R. F. D. 3, Excelsior, Minn. 
VEGETABLE PLANTS 
CABBAGE, CELERY, CAULIFLOWER, 
TOMATO, PEPPER, ASPARAGUS, EGG 
PLANTS. Largo or small lots, express or mail. 
Catalogue free. HARRY L. SQUIRES, Remsenburg, N. Y. 
For Sale-Late Cabbage Plants -1 ^ 1 ” fj 
Head, Late Flat Dutch, at $1 per 1,000. or 85 cts. per 
1,000 in lots of 5,000. David Rodway, Hartly, Del, 
SW F F' T SEED, of high quality, specially 
vj v v a treated for full, quick germination. 
r* I C\lPlT v r> Prices and information on request. 
L'lwVJV ILK E. BARTON, Box 29, Falmouth, Ky. 
Cabbage, Celery, Kohl Rabi, Beets, $, E J 0 T " F ; 
l.OOO, #8.50 per 10,000; TOMATO, SWEET POTATO. $1.50 
per l.OOO; CAULIFLOWER, PEPPERS. ECO PLANTS, $2.50 
per 1,000. Send for list. J. C, SCHMIDT, Brlatol, Pa. 
PHPQAI p—CAULIFLOWER AND 
r OHLt CELERY PLANTS, 40 c. 
100; 300. $1. Postpaid, $2ner 1,000. Cahbage.il per 
1.000. List Free. '\V.S.For<l&Son,IIartly,Del. 
ForSale: 500.000 TOMATO PLANTS 
Cabbage, Pepper, Sweet Potato and Celery Plants. Send 
for price list. Special prices on large lots. ROMANCE 
SEED AND PLANT FARM, Caleb Hogg* A Son, Cheawold, Del 
TOMATO 
■ CITXO 
—PEPPER—EGG—SWEET POTATO and CELERY 
List on application. 
VINELAND, N. J. 
PLANTS. Price List on 
CUNO BECKER, 
“Foi’ the Land’s Sake, use Bowker’s 
Fertilizers; they enrich the earth and 
those who till it.”— Adv. 
SWEET CLOVER 
Extra quality, extra low prices. 
O. M. SCOTT & SONS CO. 
223 Main St., • - MARYSVILLE, OHIO 
-$1.25 per 1,000. G. 
8. Blanching Celery 
Plants, $1.50; 40c. per 100. Parcel Post. Ready July 1. 
•SLAYMAKER & SON, - Wyoming, Del. 
White Plume and Winter Queen 
STRAWBERRY PLANTS 
RUNNER and P0T-GRUWN for Summer and Fall plant¬ 
ing. Wiil bear fruit next Summer. Catalogue free. 
HARRY L, SQUIRES, Remsenburg, N. Y. 
RinfiorTwine - Guaranteed. Farmer 
DlllUGl A W1IIC Agents Wanted. Sample and 
Catalogue Free. Theo. Burt A Sons, Meirose, Ohio 
APPLE 
ment. ROBT 
BARRELS. 
lOBT. GIL 
|^-Best standard. Hand made, 
ry number. Prompt sliip- 
LIES, Medina, New York 
Some Useful Farm Books 
THE MODERN GAS TRACTOR. Its 
construction, utility, operation and re¬ 
pair. By Victor W. Page. 5(4x7V£. Cl. 
475 pp. 24 ills. 3 folding plates. 
.The latest and most _ 
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recent improvement in tractor and auxiliary ap¬ 
pliances. All types and sizes of gasoline, kero¬ 
sene and oil tractors are fully described. Every 
phase of traction engineering practice is fully 
covered. 
Automobile 
QUESTIONS 
& ANSWERS 
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS RELAT¬ 
ING TO MODERN AUTOMOBILE 
DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND RE¬ 
PAIR. By Victor W. Page. 
This practical treat¬ 
ise consists of a series 
of thirty-six lessons, 
covering with nearly 
2,000 questions and 
their answers—the au¬ 
tomobile, its construc¬ 
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matter is absolutely 
correct and explained 
in simple language. 
A popular work at a 
p oi) u 1 a r price. An¬ 
swers every question 
you may ask relating 
to the modern auto¬ 
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350 illustrations. 
Either of the above two books will be sent post¬ 
paid for 
TWO NEW YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS 
or Twenty Ten-week Trial Subscriptions 
or Four Yearly Renewal Subscriptions 
or One New Yearly Subscription and Two Re¬ 
newal Subscriptions 
The Rural New-Yorker, 333 West 30th St., N. Y. 
BOOKS WORTH BUYING 
The Rose, Parsons. 1.00 
Plant Diseases, Massee. 1.60 
Landscape Gardening, Maynard_1.50 
Clovers, Shaw. 1.00 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
333 WEST 30th ST., NEW YORK. 
