1360 
THE RURAL NEVV-VORKER 
November 13, 1915. 
The First Auction Sale of Cows 
A Pioneer Cow. —Some day the dairy¬ 
men of New York will feel impelled to 
put her image on a monument—a pioneer 
that stood at a milestone in history and 
started a new road. Washington Street 
in Boston, with its old crooks and turns, 
is said to have been originally a cow- 
path, and men may do well to follow the 
cow in pioneer work. The heroine who 
is to have her monument some day had 
her scene well staged. 
Farm Pictures. —It was on the Mid- 
field Dairy Farm, just outside of Dover 
Plains, N. Y. It was in a narrow val¬ 
ley, with great hills walling it in—the 
woods gay with Autumn colors. At one 
side a road wound up the steep hillside 
and the hills broke away at the north 
where the valley curved off to the east. 
A cold blustering wind blew out of the 
north and as the afternoon wore away 
shadows gathered under the hills, while 
out in the valley square patches of bright 
sunshine lay on the white farm build¬ 
ings as if day regretted leaving the peace¬ 
ful scene. A big auto truck loaded with 
apples came crawling along the steep 
road, and as if to contrast sharply with 
it a team of slow oxen toiled up the hill 
—homeward bound. A herd of cows with 
a boy mounted on a pony behind them 
walked along the dusty highway. To 
those who live among the hills these 
things had become too common to notice, 
but to those of us who saw the valley for 
the first time, and who realized what this 
occasion meant the picture will always 
remain in memory. 
Making A Start. —Behind the barn 
out of the wind, the auctioneer stood on 
a box with the county agent from Tomp¬ 
kins County beside him. Around him in 
a ring were grouped 100 men and oue 
woman—a pioneer band come to organ¬ 
ize and start a commercial revolution. 
They did not look the part—no pioneer 
ever does—and the lady in black and 
white who was to act as prima donna in 
this affair walked out of the barn as her 
number was called as if she were fright¬ 
ened half to death. Every eye was upon 
her, and what some of those sharp eyes 
could not see about ladies of her class 
would not be worth mentioning. 
“How much am I offered?” asked the 
auctioneer, and the wheels of history had 
started! For this was the first auction 
of dairy cows conducted by the New York 
State Foods and Markets Department, 
and the black and white cow who stood 
fondling her calf—unconscious of the 
fact that she will some day deserve a 
monument—was the first animal to be 
sold in this way. There was good bid¬ 
ding for her, and she finally sold for $78 
—worth every bit of it and probably a 
little more for milk production. So, 
after her brief moment in the limelight 
she walked off the stage with the spotted 
little mongrel calf—no credit to her by 
the way—bobbing at her side. One of 
the humble workers of life, she had start¬ 
ed a great commercial reform, and some 
day she will be recognized as a pioneer. 
A Co-operative Experiment. —This 
sale was an experiment in cooperative 
business under direction of the State. 
This lias been a good year in the Hudson 
Valley. Grass grew well and corn was 
abundant. Thus Fall finds the barns and 
the silos well filled, so that extra cattle 
may be fed. This makes a shortage of 
cows and the county agent found that 
Dutchess County farmers wanted to buy. 
Then it was found that over in Tompkins 
County, in the center of the State, con¬ 
ditions were somewhat different. These 
farmers had some surplus stock and could 
dispose of cows. Under ordinary condi¬ 
tions in order to transfer these surplus 
cows from Tompkins and distribute them 
among farmers in Dutchess they must 
pass through at least three different 
hands, and this transfer alone would eat 
up nearly 20 per cent, of the final selling 
value. The Foods and Markets Depart¬ 
ment proposed to bring the farmers in 
these two counties right together in a 
trade. The county agent in Tompkins 
arranged with the Breeders’ Association 
to collect the cows and have them 
shipped. The Dutchess County agent ar¬ 
ranged with buyers to come to the sale 
and the Department organized it. Thus, 
instead of passing through dealers’ and 
buyers’ hands the cows went straight 
from producer to purchaser at one quar¬ 
ter the cost of selling under the old sys¬ 
tem. The county agent of Tompkins and 
a representative of the breeders’ associa¬ 
tion came on with the cows and helped 
direct the sale. The State guaranteed the 
sale as genuine and honest, and arranged 
details for payment and handling. Un¬ 
der these circumstances every one knew 
that the sale was genuine, with a square 
deal for all. 
Prices And Quality. —There were 45 
head offered and 43 were sold. This in¬ 
cluded mature cows, heifers and yearl¬ 
ings. The highest price obtained was 
$93 for a purebred Holstein—the low¬ 
est $32 for a yearling. Most of these 
cattle were Holstein grades, though a 
few showed traces of Jersey and Guern¬ 
sey blood. There were some good cows 
with others of lower grade. The average 
of all, old and young was $50.45. while 
13 mature cows averaged $73. The cat¬ 
tle were in good demand and brought 
just about what they were worth. This 
is a “cow country,” and farmers know 
a cow. They are good buyers and not 
easily fooled, and it was wonderful how 
shrewd they were in judging the points 
of an animal. With the young stock in 
particular they knew just what to look 
for and how to estimate values. They 
got some good bargains at this sale, and 
the Tompkins County people were fully 
satisfied. Everyone at the sale agreed 
that the principle underlying this new 
system is absolutely sound. It is the 
fairest and most economical way yet de¬ 
vised to bring buyer and seller together. 
Every year it happens that one part of 
New York State will be short of some 
farm product, while another part has a 
surplus. Under ordinary circumstances 
three or more middlemen have been ne¬ 
cessary to bring the two sections together 
for trade, and this costs one-third or more 
of the final price. Now see how the new 
system will reform this method. The 
State Foods and Markets Department 
can learn just where shortage and sur¬ 
plus exist. The county agents can or¬ 
ganize farmers to assemble what they 
have to sell in one county, and organize 
buyers in another. The Department 
can organize an auction sale fully guar¬ 
anteed, so that all know it is fair and 
economical. The products are sold open¬ 
ly for just what they are worth to buy¬ 
ers, thus coming as closely as possible 
to the law of demand and supply. Such 
in brief is what the Department dem¬ 
onstrated in that sun-lit valley of Dutch¬ 
ess County. It is the beginning of a 
great, economical, hopeful system which 
farmers will not give up. No use talk¬ 
ing, that unnamed lady in black and 
white who, with her mongrel son brought 
$78 at this first sale, will live in history 
and she deserves to. 
Feeding Belgian Hares and Rabbits. 
The staple diet for hares or rabbits 
of any kind reared in captivity consists 
of clover or Alfalfa hay, oats, carrots or 
cabbage, preferably the former, and 
water. They would get along on hay 
alone, but of course some variation of 
diet is desirable. I feed with good re¬ 
sults about three times a week a mash 
composed substantially as follows: About 
25 per cent, wheat bran, about 25 per 
cent, ground oats, a like amount of mid¬ 
dlings, about 15 per cent cornmeal, about 
eight per cent, oil meal, about two per 
cent, salt mixed with water to form a 
crumbly mash. Sweet milk is preferable 
to water and is also a valuable diet par¬ 
ticularly for breeding does, either alone 
or with bread. Most any vegetable can 
be fed with good results in moderate 
quantities, but hay or hay and oats 
should form the bulk of their diet. 
No different care is required in Winter, 
although if the hutches are very flimsily 
constructed and do not give much pro¬ 
tection from the cold, warmer quarters 
should be provided. They will, however, 
withstand a very low temperature if the 
hutches are kept dry and free from 
drafts. 
Angoras as well as other varieties of 
rabbits pull their hair to form nests for 
their young, although sometimes rabbits 
as well as other animals do not give 
their young the care which they require, 
and will not take the trouble to make a 
nest for them. A good breeding doe sac¬ 
rifices the greater part of the hair on 
her breast to make a nest for her young, 
and to cover them with the first few 
days of their existence. Does will also 
sometimes pull their hair when they de¬ 
sire to mate, although this is not very 
common. F. c. dutton. 
For every two 
hogs put one 
tablespoonlul 
of Dr. Hess 
Stock Tonic In 
the swill 
twice a day 
and I guaran- 
Your Hogs 
Rid Them of Worms-Like This wtTi 
„ , „ I tee It will get 
Worms are responsible for nine-tenths of all your hog troubles at all seasons I worms 
oftheyear, but especially in the fall. Now don’t be misled, thinkingyourhogs 
have some other ailment. Nine times out of ten it is worms. My Stock Tonic 
will positively expel these worms—it will keep your hogs in a healthy condition, thereby enabling 
them to resist disease and lay on fat. Pay particular attention to see that your brood sows are free 
from worms, so that the litters will turn out healthy and vigorous. Feed my Stock Tonic to 
your hogs right now to expel the worms and to your horses, cattle and sheep to keep them in good 
condition while they’re on dry feed. 
Dr. Hess Stock Tonic 
A Fine Conditioner and Worm Expeller 
25-lb. pall, $1.60. 100-lb. sack, $5.00 
It will put your horses, cows and sheep in a thriving condition, make the ailing 
ones healthy, and It your hogs are wormy, put one tablespoonful in the swill 
twice a day for every two hogs, and I want to tell you that It will be good-bye to 
theworms. 25-lb. pall. $1.60; 100 -lb. sack, $5.00. Smaller packages as low as 
60c (except in Canada and the far West and South). 
My Stock Tonic is highly concentrated, as the small dose quantity will prove; 
and as I have no peddlers, wagons and horses to pay ter lam able to sell my 
Stock Tonic through a reliable dealer In your town at rock-bottom prices. 
Dr. Hess Dip and Disinfectant 
One Gallon makes 70 to 100 Gallons Solution 
One gallon can, $1.00; smaller packages as low as 25c 
A powerful disinfectant and germ destroyer. Use it around your 
hogpens, stables, poultry houses, outhouses, troughs, garbage 
cans, drains, etc. It sure does kill lice on hogs, prevents skin 
and parasitic skin diseases. Remember, the germs of disease 
are often carried from farm to farm—use Dr. Hess Dip and 
Disinfectant to destroy the germs and keep away foul 
odors Sold in pint bottles, quart and gallon cans. Buy 
from the dealer in your 4own—under this guarantee: 
So sure am I lhat Dr. Hess Stock Tonic will 
expel the worms trom your hogs and keep 
your stock in sleek condition, lhat Dr. Hess 
Dip and Disinfectant will destroy disease 
germs and foul odors, that 1 have author¬ 
ized my dealer in your town to 6uppiy 
you with enongh lor your stock, and il 
these preparations do not do as I claim, 
return the empty packages and my dealer 
wiU refund your money. 
Dr. Hess 
Poultry Pan-a-ce-a 
Tones up dormant egg or- 
f tans and helps to make hens 
ay. Economical—a penny’s 
worth enough for 30 fowl 
dally, mibs. 25c: 5 lbs. 60c; 
25-lb. pail, $2.50. Except in 
Canada and far West. 
Why pay 
tbe 
peddler 
twice 
my 
px'iee? 
Write for my free stock book. 
DR. HESS & CLARK, Ashland, Ohio 
Dr. Hess 
Instant Louse- KHIer 
Ehould be used freely in 
the dust bath for poultry. 
Destroys lice on all farm 
animals. Sifting-top cans. 
1 lb. 25c; 8ibs. 60c. Except 
in Canada and the far 
West. 
MINERAL 1 
inusf 
over 
Removes Bursal Enlargements, 
Thickened, Swollen Tissues, 
Curbs, Filled Tendons, Sore¬ 
ness from any Bruise or Strain; 
Stops Spavin Lameness. Allays pain. 
Does not Blister, remove the hair or 
lay up the horse. $2.00 a bottle, 
elivered. Book 1 K free. 
ABSORBINE, JR., the antiseptic lini- 
lent for mankind. For Synovitis, Strains, 
iouty or Rheumatic deposits, Swollen, 
’ainful Varicose Veins. Will tell you 
lore if you write. $1 and $2 per bottle at 
ealers or delivered. Manufactured only by 
. F. YOUNG. P. D. F.. KSTemole St.. Sorinerf ield. Mast; 
HEAVE”™ 
.COMPOUND 
Booklet 
Free _ 
$3 Package guaranteed to give satisfaction or mone, 
back. $1 Package sufficient for ordinary cases. 
MINERAL HEAVE REMEDY CO.. 461 Fourth Ave„ Pittsburg. Pa 
ACORN COW BOWLS 
SU**IV 
BRASS VAIV1 
CAST 
Absolutely Sanitary. The only bowl 
for up-to-date farm equipment. 
This horse and cow bowl tluahes It 
self No wet stable floors. No valve 
In bottom to plug up. No peculating 
tank to rust out. No feed or water 
remains In bowl. Can l»e placed at 
any height Write for Catalog. 
METAL SHINGLE CO, 
117 Oregon Ave., Detroit, Mich. 
Y For any Size—Direct from Factory 
' You can now get one of these splendid money-making, labor- 
saving machines on a plan whereby it will earn its own cost and 
more before you pay. You won’t feel the cost at all. 
■ tr 0 .2 Junior—a light running, easy cleaning. close skimming. durable, 
lifetime guaranteed separator. Skims 95 quarts per hour. We also make four other 
sizes un to our big 6001b. capacity machine shown here—alt sold at similar low prices 
and on our liberal terms of only %Z down and a year to pay. 
30 DAYS’ FREE TRIAL nnr^f 
You can have SO days FREE trial and see for yourself ^ 5|L» 
how easily one of these splendid machines will earn SKf ’ 
Its own cost and more before you pay. Try It along- mgr'' ""*Kj 
side of any separator you wish. Keep it if pleased. [I ■ -*3 
If not you can return it at our expense and we will IS U 
refund your $2 deposit and pay tbe freight oharges SS ; - Is 
both way 8. You won’t be out one penny. You take fST~ IIH 
no risk. Postal brings Free Catalog Folder and direct IB | ! Wm 
trom factory oiler. Buy from the manufacturers fBf;;: 
and save bait. Write TODAY. 
Patented One-Piece 
Aluminum Skim¬ 
ming Device, Rust 
Proof and Easily 
Cleaned — Low 
Down Tank — Oil 
Bathed Ball Bear¬ 
ings—Easy Turn¬ 
ing— Sanitary 
Frame—Open Milk 
and Cream Spouts. 
Albaugh-Dover Co., 22 1 2 Marshall iivd., Chicago, III 
DOWN and / 
One Year ^ 
To Pay (M 
