274 
February 24, 1017. 
^/>e RURAjIL NEW-YORKER 
New York State Grange 
'rii« atteiidaiieo at tlie forty-fourth 
annual inoetins at Oneonta. February 
C.tli to nth. filled the large floor space 
in the State Armory. It was a great 
meeting and all of the day sessions were 
ei-owded full of business related to the 
w<dfare of the country, and especially 
the interests of agriculturists. Dele¬ 
gates from every ctjunty came to the 
jdatform with resolutions adopted at 
ttieir County 1‘omona (^ranges. These 
expreiss<>d the attitude or viewitoints of 
the best class of farmers on the most 
import!int issties of the times. S. J. 
I-owe]). Master of the State Grange, in 
his opening address outlined some of the 
most timely (piestions the meeting would 
discuss .and take action on during the 
four d.ays of work. Some of these which 
ar<' la'fore the iteoi)le and some now 
presented in bills in either the Legisla¬ 
ture or Congres.s. have to do with pub¬ 
lic and iigricailtiiral .schools, State or 
nation-wide iirohibition. equal suffrage, 
jiublic highways, game laws. i)rotection 
of sheej) from dogs, enlarging the func¬ 
tions .and j)ower of the State Depart¬ 
ment of Foods and Markets, etc. 
('omptiadler Travis in his speech dls- 
<ai.ssed a State constabulary, high cost of 
living, increase of bonded indebtednes.s, 
and advised co-operative buying and sell¬ 
ing. Senator F. H. Brown of Watertown 
.addia'ssed the meeting. His main theme 
was more efficient public schools. Reso¬ 
lutions adoi)ted ai-e summarized as fol¬ 
lows: Favoring a minimum passing 
mark for rural .and academic schools, 
allowing the same passing mark for 
both. Medical examination is inefficient 
as practiced in the rural schools. _ In its 
place is recommended an examination 
each five years and special case.s brought 
to the attention of the town board of 
health whenever in the judgment of the 
teacher in consultation with the di.strict 
superintendent or iihysical director, such 
(■xamination is dccuned necessary. Re¬ 
commending a rational . system of physi¬ 
cal training in our public schools, but 
opposing any attempt to compel rural 
districts to engage sjjecial teachers for 
the work, and recommending that the 
teachers now engaged for school woi-k be 
reipiired to (jualify themselves for this 
work, and the State gives them every as¬ 
sistance. to that end. 
That we demand the (uiactment of a 
law providing that any person found 
hunting, shooting «n' taking game from 
the land of another without written or 
j)rinted consent of the owner, shall be 
deemed giiilty of a misdemeanor and 
jninishable ■ by a fine of at least .$2;); 
that fntit growers and mtr.serymen be 
given a sjtecial permit by the Conserva¬ 
tion ('ommi.«sion upon written applica¬ 
tion of said owners de.<cribing their 
l)roperty. giving tlnmi the right to de¬ 
stroy rabbits nr hares in any manner, at 
any time within the bounds of ownei's 
proiierty. 
Recommended that all milk-testing at- 
stations and creameries be done by per¬ 
sons licensed ■ upon competent examina¬ 
tion by the State Department of Agri¬ 
culture. Any unlicensed testing or 
flagrant irr<“gularities iit such stations 
and creameries be i)unishable by fine or 
penalty. 
Emphatic protests against the law 
which permits the shipment of intox¬ 
icants into dry territory, and urging up¬ 
on otir Legislature the enactment of 
laws to i)revent siuh abuse of the 
expre.ssed will of the jteojile; 
To ask the Legislative committee of 
the State Grange to use its influence in 
I he Legislature to secure the enactment 
of a law making pri.sons self-supporting 
by compelling the employment of prison¬ 
ers in useful labor : 
T<) petition our repres(mtatives at Al¬ 
bany to introduce a measure in the State 
Legislature making it compulsory that 
the telephone com]ianies having fran¬ 
chises in this State ishall have a suf¬ 
ficient number of connections between 
their central stsitions to make it possible 
for a iiarty wishing to call any party on 
the other line, to do so by paying a 
lea.sonable extra charge, in addition to 
tb(‘ r('gtilar rate of s.aid charge. 
The State Hospital ('ommission is 
tiskiug for a boml issue of ten million 
dollars for more buildings, because the 
Itresent hospitals are 22% overcrowded. 
Resolved that the New York State Grange 
is opposed to such a bond issue for the 
care of «tlien insane and believes that 
further efforts should be made to meet 
the situation through greater activity by 
the commission in deporting aliens, and 
l.y greater restrictions on immigration to 
the I'nited States of people who are 
likely to be undesirable residents or pub¬ 
lic charges. 
Such amendments to the Donnelly 
Act or its repeal, if. needed, as will al¬ 
low I he farmer to engage in collective 
bargaining without being in danger from 
any laws of the State. We most empha¬ 
tically prote.st the laying of any em¬ 
bargo that shall restrict the American 
farmers' output from reaching the m.ir- 
kets of the world. That embargoes, 
boycotts and unnatural combinations to 
control trade are autocratic, .socialistic, 
dangerous, unjust and unfair. 
We are well pleased with the work of 
the Department of F<Mids and Markets 
and desire that it be maintained as now 
organized. We believe the Dairymen’s 
League to be a just organization neces¬ 
sary for the welfare of the dairying in¬ 
dustry, and desire that such laws cover¬ 
ing co-operation bo passed that will in¬ 
sure its legality. Endor.so the admin¬ 
istration of the Department of Foods 
iind Markets and do hereby petition 
the Goverimr and the Legislature to in- 
crea.«e the appropriation for its support 
to make it more efficient. That we ap¬ 
prove of the extension of the powers 
and duties of the Commissioner thereof, 
to meet new conditions and i)roblems as 
they arise, and favor the continued 
appropriation of ach'quate sums to c.ar- 
ry out the purpo.se for which such De¬ 
partment of Foods and Markets wan 
created. The Departimmt, under the 
direction of .T. .T. Dillon, lias proved of 
direct benefit to the farmers and there¬ 
fore deserves the financial support that 
is needed, and tlu'refore we request our 
representatives at Albany to make the 
n<*eded approjirialion and th<‘reby make 
the department more efficiont. 
The State Grange endorses the plan 
of giving the luesent local jiarcel post 
rate without extra charge for the fir.st 
liound, thus giving a flat local rate over 
the rural delivery lines only of two 
pounds for a c<>nt. and as corollaries 
to this plan that the libraries have the 
privilege of paying for carriage of the 
books iinstamiK'd and that su<-h institu¬ 
tions may. if desired, jireiiay for both the 
coming and going of the books. 
Relative to good roads, a protest Is 
made to the Department of Highways 
against the expen.sive plan of Winter 
road work for the favored automobile 
until some plan is devised to make our 
State highways accessible to horse- 
drawn vehicles for the entire season. 
On ballot reform it was resolved that 
every American citizen at the age of 2l 
years and over, with sound mind, either 
male or female, who can speak, read 
and write the English , language under- 
standingly, .shall have the right of suf¬ 
frage. 
Recommended that the New York 
State Grange Legi.slative Committee be 
directed to exert its efforts toward .se¬ 
curing amendment of Section 21 of the 
Agricultural Law, that providing for the 
scoring of barns and dairies by the 
Agricultural Department. 
It is requested that the Legislature set 
apart the money used for farmers’ In- 
.stitutes in counties having farm bureaus, 
for the use of the farm bureaus therein 
for specialist expenses, and that the 
farmers’ institutes in such counties be 
di.scontinued. 
We endorse the action of the New 
Y"ork State Bean Growers’ Committee in 
asking for a State api)ropriation for a 
study of the bean problem. 
In regard to the apple grading law, 
the State Grange urges a change in 
Grade B for one which grade shall be 
more liberal with regard to fungus and 
minor defects than the present B grade, 
and that, in any further legislation re¬ 
lating to the i)acking of apples, the in¬ 
terests of the small fruit grower be carc- 
Rilly considered. 
Regarding the Township School Bill, 
we believe that the power of consolidating 
schools should rest entirely in the hands 
of the people. Therefore we recommend 
that such j)ower shall be taken entirely 
from the district superintendent and the 
State Department of Education, and 
that no consMidation order shall here¬ 
after be effective until confirmed by 
the board of ediication of the town or 
towns in which the district or districts 
are located. 
Second—We recommend that in towns 
having four or more districts, or school 
units, not more than two members of 
the board of education shall be chosen 
from any one district, and in Miose 
towns having only three districts. :i 
majority of the board shall not be chosen 
from any one district. 
Third—We recommend that any bill 
passed shall contain a provision whereby 
local school avithorities may establish in 
the rural communities schools adapted to 
the needs of such communities with 
adequate provision for instruction in 
agriculture and home-making. These 
schools to receive such State aid as will 
make possible their develo))ment withert 
a tuition charge or an exce.ssive tax rat ■ 
on the town. 
Fourth—Whereas, the u.se of many 
different kinds of text-books is now :i 
matter of inconvenience and unnece.s- 
sary exi)ense. we recommend that Jiny 
bill i)assed shall contain a provision for 
uniform textbooks throughout e.-ich 
town, to be adopted by the board oT 
education. 
Fifth—We re<-ommend th.at the Board 
of Education, shall not exi)end in any 
one year for the construction of new 
buildings or the remodeling, improve¬ 
ment or enlargement of existing school 
buildings an amount in excess of one- 
half of one i)er cent, of the asses.sed 
valuation of the town, and in no ca.se in 
exce.ss of .$.u,000. without a vote of the 
qualified school electors of the town. 
yixth—Whereas, exiierience has shown 
the i)resent method of electing District 
Superintendents of Schools to be un- 
.satisfactory. we recommend that such of¬ 
ficials be elected at a joint meeting ot 
the members of the town boards (d edu¬ 
cation in each suiiervisory di.strict. 
Sidney Center. S'. Y. W. II. J. 
The J. H, Hale Peach 
Tested, Trltnl and 
Proved a Great Siicoess 
“In the 3. H. Hale Peach lies 
a wonderful opportunity for 
fame and fortune to some 
one or more peach growers la 
every peach growing neigh¬ 
borhood. For those with faith 
and courage to do so, the way 
to success is plain and sure. 
To make assurance doubly 
sure, I have agreed inmy con¬ 
tract with the William P. 
Stark Nurseries to cut the 
buds for propagating direct 
from my fruiting trees in my 
own orchards, thus guaran¬ 
teeing the purity of stock 
and the integrity of a name 
1 value and often sign as. 
Yours truly, 
Wm. P. Stark’s 1917 Catalog 
Up-to-Date,” “Concise,” “Reliable,” “Interesting,” “Useful” 
The novice and the expert too have found this Fruit Book of great value. It is use¬ 
ful alike to those whogrow for distant markets, for local in arkets and for home use. 
It contains 160 pages, 191 illustrations and new information never printed before. 
, J "I thank you for copy of 
Easy to Find your catalog, and am im- 
What You Want pressed with the simplicity, 
directness and modesty of its make-up.’ —Rev. 
Frank M. Thomas, Louisville. Kentucky. 
“Asusual.youhavegot- 
Or Practical Interest ten Qur, what is, to my 
to Any HorUculturist mind, one of the best cat¬ 
alogs of any business firm with which I am ac¬ 
quainted. It contains a deal of material which 
is of practical interest to any horticulturist.’’— 
J. C. Whitten, Professor of Horticulture, Uni¬ 
versity of Missouri. 
Tu MIL I ij “The most complete, most 
The Whole Idea attractively arranged forpur- 
Is Service poses of information and most 
effectively illustrated of any nursery catalogs 
we have ever seen. The whole idea of the pro¬ 
duction is service.”—From the American Nur¬ 
seryman, November, 1916. 
I c II CTT X “I have your catalog in 
Chuck Full or Up-to- my fruit library, and 
Date Information would not give it up for 
$1.00. It’s chuck full of up-to-date information 
such as I need.”—Ambrose J. Moyer, Ham¬ 
burg, Pa. 9 
. . “Your list contains practically 
Vaneties of gjj varieties that have 
Proved Worth proved their worth. Your de¬ 
scriptions of varieties are the most accurate 
and complete of any I have so far seen.”—Jo¬ 
seph Gerardi, Jerseyville, III. 
TliP Delicious Apple 
If you have ever seen this 
Ix'autiful apple, caught its 
fragrant aroma and tasted 
its juicy, crisp, delightful 
flavor, you know why it 
sells at an average of $1.00 
or more pdr box than any 
other apple. 
„ "Last spring I could have saved half 
Saves on a $12.90 order, if I had not ordered 
Money before I received your catalog.”—Ed 
Miller, Ava, Missouri. 
D “I really cannot make any sug- 
Could Not Be gestions toward improving 
Improved your'Catalog. It is about as 
near perfection now as catalogs attain in this 
day and generation. I do not know of a better 
one.”—U. P. Hedrick, Horticulturist, New 
York Agricultural Experiment Station. 
r. . • ni '• “Your catalog has been re- 
Pnees m Flam ceived and read through with 
Figures a great deal of interest. It is a 
dandy. I like the direct way in which you de¬ 
scribe the different items and the methods of 
appending the prices of each in plain figures. 
This will be a book that I shall refer to often 
because the matter is so conveniently arranged 
and so complete.”—W. L. Howard, Horticul¬ 
turist, University of California. 
Bartlett Pear 
A opiversal favorite as a 
canner. shipper and for 
home use. 
Don’t Handicap Your Orchard 
Mr. H. P. Gould, Government Pomologist in 
charge of Fruit-Production Investigation, says: 
“To plant a poor tree is to start with a handi¬ 
cap that may continue throughout the life of 
the orchard. The purchase price of a poor 
tree may be a few cents less than that of one 
of high grade, but the economy of the trans¬ 
action ends with its purchase. Ev'erything else 
costs substantially the same as for aiiigh-grade 
tree. . —Farmer’s Bulletin 776, Dec., 1916. 
The Secret of Good Trees 
is in healthy, well-matured wood, plenty of 
roots, and size enough to indicate good free 
growth. This requires rapid.continuous growth 
m the nursery without shocks or set-backs. 
Then they must be dug right and handled 
right. Many of our customers tell us that our 
trees come into bearing unusually young. 
Save Money—Get First-Class Trees 
We sell direct from nursery only. The average 
agent often gives wrong advice, mixes labels, 
delays delivery, misrepresents and charges 
a commission of 30 to 50 per cent, which comes 
out of your pocket. Buy direct from our 
catalog and insure satisfaction. 
Montmorency Cherry 
Most popular Bour cherry. 
Largest, finest fruit. 
Thriftiest, most productive 
tree. 
Everbearing Straw- 
... --J , —---- .-. — - - berry 
Bears first summer and fr'l 
Wm. P. Stark Nurseries, Box 435, 
The Genuine 
J. H. Hale 
Peach 
Beware of Imitations 
Look for This Trade-Mark 
Extract from Contract 
“In consideration of the agree¬ 
ment . . . John H. Hale and 
the J. H. Hale Company do 
hereby grant, assign and set 
over unto William P Stark and 
William H. Stark the exclusive 
right and control of the propa¬ 
gation and sale of the said 
^■J. H. Hale Peach.” 
ToWm.F. Stark Nurseries, Box 435, Stark City,Mo. 
Please send books as checked: I am interested in planting: 
1917 Catalog Free □ For Distant Markets □ 
Inside Facts (10 cents enclosed)Q For Local Markets □ 
How to Beautify Your Home For Home Use □ 
Grounds (10 cents enclosed) 
I 
ame 
Address 
(Give County and Street or R. F. D. Number) 
