Fel^ruary D, 1918 
208 
RURAL NEW-YORKER 
In The Nation^s Service 
America is sending its best 
men to fight for freedom, and 
in their honor the whole land 
is dotted with service flags 
carrying the stars of sacrifice. 
It is a far cry from the 
crowded city streets above 
which floats our service flag 
to the telephone exchange 
hidden in the frontdine trenches. 
But the actuating spirit of 
service here and abroad re¬ 
mains unchanged. 
The Stars and Stripes is the 
emblem which unites us in war 
for human liberty and national 
honor. The service flag is the 
emblem which unites us in 
mutual sympathy for the men 
who give themselves and for 
those who give their men. 
These flags should inspire 
all citizens to greater endeavor 
and greater sacrifice. As one 
of the agencies of preparation 
and military support, the Bell 
System is honored by the op¬ 
portunity to do its share. 
Looking Ahead in Ohio 
Discussion is going on in some quarters 
about the possibility of raising crop after 
crop of corn on the same land, and main¬ 
taining its fertility with “catch crops.” I 
am aware that “one swallow does not 
make a Summer”—like our last one, at 
least—but a little experiment I made 
running through 20 years, inclines me to 
the belief that it is possible. Near my 
silo I liaA C a short acre of land which I 
expei-imented with to try out this idea. 
It was planted every year to silage corn, 
and at every last working, some catch 
crop was sown, varying the kinds with 
the years, oats and peas, I’ve, rap<‘, and 
the like, plowing them under the next 
Spring. I could never see that there was 
any falling off in the vigor, growth, or 
size of the crop that followeil. Whether 
this experiment could be multii)lied to 
cover a large field for 20 years’ cropping 
is a matter of speculation, but it was no 
speculation so far as it relates to this 
little plot. 
\Ed .—We know of a number of cases 
where this has been worked out siiccess- 
fully on a large scale.] 
It is remarkable how the tractor ques¬ 
tion is interesting our farmers and “milk 
stand” discussions about them are of al¬ 
most daily occurrence. Some of the 
stories told of their effectiveness seem al¬ 
most too good to he true, but in most cases 
can be verifie<l. Due matter is much dis¬ 
and adjoining land : taxes all paid direct 
and indirect fz'om country taxes. My 
neighbor, who happens to have a large 
350-acre farm, is assessed .$1,100, in ad¬ 
dition to his annual taxes; and when this 
man tries to hire a man, he is told that 
they must have as much as the road pays, ‘ 
and no milking, and off Sunday’s chores. 
How is this man to get his farm worked? 
if prices take his labor away, and then 
he is told to “speed up,” and as the writer 
know.s, after a man has reached 75 years, 
“speeding up” is something more than 
“psychological.” Have the farmei-s of 
other sections like i)roblems? j. u. 
Sources of Salt 
I’hat there are at least 100 uses fur 
common table salt in the economy of 
household management, each one .a dis¬ 
tinct gain over the usual methods of 
kitchen routine, is not commonly known 
by most housewives. Human life could 
not continue, as could neither that o' the 
higher orders of animals, without .salt. 
It does not enter into the composition of 
tissue but is essential to the proper di¬ 
gestion of the food and the removal of 
worn-out matter. Among the many cruel 
l)uuishment.s that were once inflicted in 
China was the deprivation of salt, causing 
at first a most inde.scribable longing and 
anxiety, and finally a painful death. 
So universally needed, .salt deposits are 
found in many parts of the world. The 
AMERICAN Telephone and Telegraph Company 
And Associated Companies 
One Policy One System Universal Service 
Solar Vats for Salt Making 
Make Your Farm 
a Natco Farm 
Your farm buildings must shelter your 
crops, stock and family. Erect buildings 
that arefiresafe and storm-proof, afford¬ 
ing complete protection from the elements. 
How? Simply build with 
Natco Hollow Tile 
Natco buildings save painting and repairs 
—will remain in first class condition as long 
as you farm—and longer. The deadair spacesin 
walls erected of hollow tile, keep the barns warm 
in winter and cool in summer—prevent dampness 
and mildew. The smooth glaz¬ 
ed walls are easy to keep 
clean, sweet and sanitary 
—make it easy to produce 
high grade milk. 
Askyour building supply 
dealer to show you sam- 
. leaofourline. He has 
valuable practical 
plans, too—free to 
prospectivebuild- 
ers. Writousdi- 
rect for new 
illustrated 
“Natco on 
the l<'arm’’ 
book-1918 
Edition. 
It’s 
free. 
bonal Fire Proofing Company 
|Building Pittsburgh, Pa. 
: assure a wide and economical distribution. 
Ldairy barns, silos, corn cribs, poultry and hog: houses, 
^aragres, etc. 
Uers mention The R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a 
ire deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
riisscd. Which is the bcttc'r. the big 
wheeled or the “catorpilliir” imike? It’.s 
the labor question that is the larger 
problem. The isurplus labor has left the 
farm, and taken about ever.v time some 
farm boy with it, iiiid the selective draft 
seemingly has made its demands upon the 
few boys left. It is argued that aii elderl.v 
man can drive a motor-tnictor and drive 
tandem a string of harrows, rollers, and 
drill, !iiid with wide ends can put in his 
10 a(;res a day to crops, and it is right 
lu're that I see the sui>eriorit.v of the 
caterpillar tr.-ictor comes in. Its greater 
surface soil hold gives it greater pull, and 
less packing of the soil, and unlike a 
horse, knows neither heat, length of day, 
or thirst—simply craves gastdiiie and re¬ 
sponds to an intelligent driver. Last 
Rummer my neighbor did his haying by 
tractor i)ower, mowing, side raking, and 
imlliiig the bay loader, and then tugging 
on the lia.v fork, neither made frant'c by 
flies, blistered shoulders, or incompetent 
driv(‘r. After the day’s work was over 
it was belted to the milkiug macliiiie and 
“did its bit” by heliuug milk 35 cows. 
At present thei-e seems to be an un¬ 
favorable outlook for getting farm labor 
next Rpring. but I suppose, when the 
time comes, the farmers will “up and at 
it again” and do their best not to fall 
back ill the iiroductiou of crops. In this 
locality, as avcII as a number of other 
places, (he road tax for paved roads looms 
up big and with it the Government’s wa.v 
of paying great—to the farmer—wages, 
and the short hours. A great military 
highway is almost complete from Cleve- 
laiid to Pittsburgh, and uow the intention 
is to put ill the last link the comiug Rum¬ 
mer, so that motor truck trains cau be 
run. It takes labor to do this, aud the 
builders desire to get it along the right 
of way. To do this, the wages paid are 
beyond the possibilities of farmers—$0 
aud $7 a day for teams, aud $3 to $5 for 
men. All this expense comes out of 
United Rtates. Rtate. county, township, 
<|ii,iiifity of .salt in the ocenu is .said to 
be eipial to at least five time.s the ma.ss of 
the .\lps. Near Cracow, Poland, is a bed 
500 miles long, 20 miles wide and a quar¬ 
ter of a mile thick. This mine is the 
greatest of its kind in the world and 
houses a complete city under the earth’s 
crust engaged iu operating the wait de¬ 
posits. Houses, streets, electric lights 
and all the acces.sories of above-ground 
villages are here found. Mine mules have 
been born in the Cracow works, to live a 
long life of usefulne.ss without once ever 
coming to the surface. 
The picture shows .some .salt vats at 
Ryracuse. N. Y., called the “.Sslt City,” 
because of its Large (lejtosits. These vats 
are called “solar vats," siuee the salt is 
here spread out for the sun’s rays which 
tlioroughl.v evaporate the water. Part of 
the Ryracuse deposits ;ire under Onon¬ 
daga Lake iu the form of a great basin of 
salt water, separated from rhe fresh 
water above by au impervious layer of 
clay. By boring through this the saline 
water is pumped up iu great quantities. 
Another method of evaporation emi)loyed 
is by boiling. If boiled down rapidly a 
fine table salt is made; if more slowly, 
coarse salt, as large crystals have time 
to form. A. ir. p. 
Hope Farm Notes 
(Continued from page lOS t 
I do not think history cau .show any case 
where a law or a practice whi<di is of¬ 
fensive to the majority or advanced be¬ 
yond the thought of the majority, has 
ever 'been successfully forced upon a free 
people. At any i*ate the contest over this 
law is a good thing. Had it come last 
year the law never could have passed. It 
will result iu a better school law and iu 
greater interest iu rural education. Best 
of all. it will show farmers that if they 
are to get anything of public rights they 
must organize aud go after it themselves. 
H; W. C. 
