418 
7She RURAL NEW-YORKER 
March 1<>, 1!>1S 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE JiUSlXERS FARMEn'H PAPER 
A Xutloiiiil Wui-Uly Journiil for Country and Suburban llomcH 
PMablinheil isso 
I'libllidicd wrrkly by tlir Rural riihllRhlni; Company, 8113 Writ 30lli fitrrrt. »it Vork 
IlKRBKRT W. C'OLLiytowooD, I’roKideiit niifl Krtitor. 
John' .1. PlbMN, Trojiaurer nnd Cicncral Manaprcr. 
Wm. F. Dn,iX)N. Scci-etary. Mrs. E. T. Koylk. Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION : ONE DOLLAR A YEAR 
To £orei(fii countries in the Universal Postal Union, $2.01. equal to 8s. 6d., or 
8(6 marks, or lillk francs. Kcinit in money order, express 
order, perswjnal che<‘k or liank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Oflloe as Second Cla.>!s ?Iatlcr. 
Advei'lisinp: rates. 7.i cents per aRate line—7 words. References required for 
advertisers unknown to us ; and cash must accompany transient orders. 
•‘A SQUARE PEAL” 
tVe believe that c^ ery advertisement in this paper is backed by a respon¬ 
sible i)erson. We use ever.v |>ossible i)recautlon and admit the ndvertisinpr of 
reliable hotises only. Hut to make ooubly sure, we will make Rood any loss 
to iiald subscribers sustained by trustinpr any deliberate swindler, irres 7 >on- 
sible advertisers or inisleadinR advertisements in our columns, nnd any 
pueh swindler will be publicly exposed. We are also often called upon 
to adjust differences or nii.stakes between our subscribers and honest, 
resitonsible houses, whether advertisers or not. We willingly use our good 
offices to this end, but stich ca.ses should not be confused with dishonest 
transactions. We imotect subscribers against rogues, but we will not bo 
responsible for the debts of honest Itankrupts sanctioned hv the courts. 
Notice of the comiilaint intist be sent to us within one month of the time of 
the transaction, and to identify it, you should mention The UfBAl, New- 
Yobkkh when writing the advertiser. 
M'lirn arc you io rraiau? 
ms qiio.sfion is addressed to Charles II. Betts, 
secretary of the New York Food f’oniniission 
ftir tlie tiffh time. On flie tlemand of the farmers 
Cov. Whitman fell over himself to jjet rid of the 
I>'iirm Council, hnt what they want is the re.signa- 
tion or removal of Mr. Betts. This demand is clear 
and unmistakable, and the (Governor and Betts both 
know it. 1-lvery day Betts .spends in oHice means 
the loss of 1,000 votes. When arc you yoinf/ io 
rrxif/n f 
* 
I am busy from 7 a. m. till 12 p. m., daily, and only 
rcR ret that the days are .so .short. You might be inter¬ 
ested in jiassing to know that he.side.s running a moun¬ 
tain hotel (by the way, we will have 20 people from 
your city here this week, taking moving jiictures), I am 
eount.y administrator of food, agent for W. S. S., agent 
for nitrates, member of the (teorgia Legislature, look 
after a OOO-acre farm, and county superintendent of 
roads, the salary of which I put back into roads by 
employing men to fill holes and keep up. I got you a 
new subscriber this week, and never hesitate to jiut in a 
good word for a jiaper tluit stands for a square deal. 
Ceorgia. craig r. aknoi.p. 
TL\T is a busy m:in and a jiatidotic citizen. We 
are glad to travel Avith him, and hojie Ave are 
able to give him a little mentiil nitrate as a stimu¬ 
lant to activity. He ought to luiA’e a little moi-e sleep, 
for that represents the pho.sphorie acid of life. With¬ 
out it, human energy does not enjoy a Imlanced ra¬ 
tion. This AA'ar, jimong other thing.s, is devidojiing a 
gnuit army of men Avho give the finest sei'vice to 
their countiy. and (‘xjiress their ])ati“iotism not by 
fljig-Avaving Jind tongue-Avaggin.g, but by .sweat and 
silent service. 
* 
lio apple orehardx need limef 
ILVT (jiiestion comes up every year, and can be 
briefly ansAvm'cd. The apiih* tree—at least mo.st 
varieties—seems to do best on a slightl.A^ acid soil. 
Some Viirieties do better on limestone than others, 
but most eNiierience goes to shoAV that the jipple 
does not resiiond to lime as .some other fruits do. 
So that if Ave considm- the tr»*('s iilone, the lime Avonld 
be more economically used on other crojis. Many 
oivhai’ds now iire fertilized, or partly .so, through a 
cover crop like clover, rye, buckwheat or turnips. 
These crops I’espond to lime; in fact, most of them 
Avill not thrive Avithout lime. So, Avhile the trees 
ma.v not need the lime, tlu' coA-er crops do need it. 
and Avill make ii .stronger growth when it is nsiul. 
So AA’e lime orchards, not to ludii the treu's directly, 
but to hel)) the covei' croji, and. through it. to helji 
the orchilrd. 
W L doubt if there is any jirodiict in the country 
Avhich offers a more ]U‘jictical help in this 
year’s food jiroblem than dried sweet iiotatoes. Most 
IK'oiile mwer lu'iird of such a thing, .yet the sweed po¬ 
tato takes its drying Avith gi-eater character and dig¬ 
nity (if Ave niiiy lait it that AViiy) than any product 
Ave know. 'J'he process is simple, the product but 
little chiinged in form, and of all the crops grown in 
this country the .sweet potato can jiroduce more ac¬ 
tual food to the iicre than jiny other. This is a pro- 
«-e.s.s for the South, Jind has been worked out by 
Bi-of. tJeo. W. Cai-ver of Alabama. The South needs 
new industrie.s, the Avorld nee<ls nior(‘ food, the South¬ 
ern peojile need ii more varied 'Winter I'ation. and 
the Food .Vdministration lu'eds sensible suggestions. 
Here they all are in a bunch—driisl sweet jiotiitoesl 
“.I irildvat liax nothiny on a yood in>inan in ihc 
Jiyhi .she irill put up for the riyhi.s of her ehildren! 
With the ballot hi her hand -she will he able to tear 
ihrouyh the touyhcst politieal hide!” 
ILVT remark Avas made in connection Avith the 
contest for the repeal of the school Iuav in Ncav 
Y ork. Surely no one can be more intere.sted in child¬ 
training and education than the country niother.s. 
AA'ho have little in the Avoild bc.'i.'e tludr children. A 
vast majority of the.se mothers are lighting for the 
repeal of this hiAV. 'With them it is not a question of 
taxation or of higher education. It is idaiu common 
sense and mother loA'e Avhich makes them demand 
that the good school must be brought nearer-home, 
and not taken furthei- aAvay. The strangi'st thing 
about this entire contest has been the apiiarent ina¬ 
bility of -Vlbany and the higher educators to under¬ 
stand the true meaning of this revolt in the country. 
The Educational Dejiartment Avould apparently legis¬ 
late against the Avishes of country peojde about as 
they Avould against crime. Noav they knoAA’ the coun¬ 
try feeling, and that they cannot iiroperly enforce 
this laAV Avithout stirring uj) a revolution. 'We ought 
to thank them, hoAvever. for giving the country. 
Avomen something to fight for. 
rt 
I F readers Avant to try making sugar iit home Ave 
think sorghum Avill pay them better than sugar 
beets, although the latter are being recommended. 
It looks easy to .slice sugar beets, .soak the slices in 
Avater and boil doAvn, but it is not so simple after all. 
It is hard to get the impurities out. and they give ii 
disagreeable taste. Sorghum can be crushed and 
the sap boiled to a syrup. But if you Avant home¬ 
made SAveets, Avhy not a coujile of .sAvarms of bees? 
They Avill get the SAveets for you. 
* 
G OV. WHITMAN appointed a neAV Farm and IMar- 
ket Oouncil after a ]iolitical Avrangle Avith the 
Legislature. The fight this time Avas over the right 
of appointment. The (loA’crnor claimed it and so 
did the Legi.slature—both sides claiming to have a 
legal ojiinion from the .Vttorney-Oeneral. I'lie iN'sult 
Avas that the Governor appointeil the folloAving per¬ 
sons—and they AA'ere confirmed by the Senale: .Tohii 
Mitchell. .Tames II. Killough of Brooklyn, Frank AV. 
lIoAve of Syracuse. Dean of the Agricultural (’ollege 
at Syracuse Fniversity: .Tohn Y. OeroAA'^ of AVashing- 
tonville. Miss Mary B. A'an Arsdale of Ncav A'ork. 
Datus C. Olarke, dairyman; AA'illiam E. Hami of 
Aa-oii, AAMlliam F. Bratt of Batavia, LeAvis L. Mor¬ 
rell of Kinderhook. 
AVhile Ihe OoA’ernor claims that these men or most 
of them Avere suggestial by the farmers, the fact is 
that th5 real farmers Avho are in a serious revolt 
are not resiionsible for these selection.s. They aaIU 
offer no jiersonal criticism of these apiioiniments, 
but they are on record as oiiposi'd to the Avhob' plan, 
and they demand the repi^al of (he hiAvs creating 
tlm Food Commission and council. The Avliobi 
.scheme is cumbm'some. expensive and unnei-essary 
in addition to the Federal commissions. As usual 
the jioliticians are incapable of sizing iqi th<^ situii- 
tion, and they still assume (hat this strong proti'st 
by the farmers can be headed off in the old AA'ay of 
handing out a fcAA' jierfunctory olllces. This is 1h(> 
Avay former struggles for indeiiendence have been 
killed off, but this time it Avill not .succeed. Faruu*rs 
are out to def(*nd a jirinciple, and they Avill noAv 
see it (hrougli to the limit. Do not let anyone tell 
you that the farnu'rs askial for tlu'se ugaa' appoint¬ 
ments or that tlnw an? noAv “satisfied.” 
* 
-V fi'AV flay.s iigo a inaii came to ns to borroAV iiKmcy to 
I)ay his tiixes. He sent broilers last .Inly to New A'ork. 
'Pile exjn-e.ss coinjiany failed to deliver tlieni, and as yet 
has failed to jiiiy for them. If he had the money for Ids 
broilers he could ]iay his taxes. c. 
HIS is only one case Avhere )i faihii’e to jiay such 
obligjitions cuts notches into .society Avay up to 
tin* governiinnit. In this laise the express coiujiany 
is H'sponsible for the damage. It lost the goods, and 
is amiily iible to jiay for them. In order to jivoid a 
jn.st re.s])onsibility th<\v Avind them.selves up in i-cd 
tajie Avhich is as tough as steel armor again.st Avea)»- 
ons Avhich a plain farmer can bidng against them. 
-Vnd Ave have no doubt .stockholders of this express 
conqiany are .shouting iiatriotism and scolding this 
farmer for not buying bonds ami stamjis. 
#: 
L IOT us put (his m:itter of the hire.<l man's <-hildrcn 
right up Avhere avc can all realize the size of it. 
Unless the hired man is different from mo.st hunmn 
beings, he Avill b(‘ a better and more etlicient man if 
he can have a family of good children to be jiroud of. 
If he cannot have a (diance to raise his family in 
the counti'y he Avill carry his etliciency to the city and 
join the ranks of those Avho "knock" fainning. No 
use talking, this feeling against the hired nnin Avith 
(diildren i.s re.sjionsible for some of the jiresent tronbh? 
over farm lielp. 
IK 
9 
N f) one doubts tin* .seidousness of the seed corn 
situation. It never Avas Avorse at this sea¬ 
son. Bad, too, becau.se farmers Avould, from choice, 
groAv a larger acreage of corn than (Wi'r befori*. Un¬ 
der all conditions, labor imdudml. corn aaMII be tlu' 
nii'st iiractical grain crop that most of our Eastern 
farmers can i-ai.se. But they must have good seed, 
and they cannot be too careful about buying, and 
testing before they plant. It seems sure that an 
iirmy of frauds has gone into the seed corn busine.ss 
this year, and they ought to be tested along Avith 
their corn. The presmit situation presents great 
temptation to the crook or near crook, and Ave ad¬ 
vise readers to stick to the dealers Avho haA-e some 
reputation. 
t! 
T his Avar is forcing changes in farm methods 
which Avould hardly have come in 2o years of 
peace. Pork jiroduction is to be greatly increased in 
the Eastern States. For man.v yt'ars it has been felt 
that sAvine belonged naturally to the corn-groAving 
sections of the West. Pork has been a.ssociated Avith 
cheap corn. AAliile SAvine haAc iiLvays found a jilace 
on Eastern farms, the real busine.ss of pork jiroduc- 
tioii inoA’od up clo.se to the cornfields. Noav the high 
price of corn forces farmers to find cheaiier hog food, 
and they are turning to pasture crops. Thousands of 
Eastern farmers never realized that the pig is a 
grazing animal, just as much so iis the sheep or coav, 
if .A’ou Avill only giVe him a chance. Thus Ave are 
learning to let the jiigs run in clover, oats and peas, 
rape, .sorghum and corn, acting as hired men and 
harvesting the crops for us. The thrifty Eastern 
farmer has regarded this as a “laz.A’’’ Western meth¬ 
od, but the shortage of labor Avill change his opinion, 
and AA'e shall have many more farmers raksing hogs 
on pasture. It is a good thing to get Mr. Hog out of 
his pen or sty, and let him AA'ork for his living. 
•c 
T he Illuminating Engineering Society of America, 
i.s, as its name implies, interested in tuiming 
ilarkne.ss into light. It covers every device for 
lighting both toAvn and country. Therefore, its 
otficers are supposed to knoAV' all about the subject. 
-At a recent meeting the secretary of this society 
stated: 
Expenditur(?.s for illiiinination, .$.')00,000,000; oxiien- 
ditures for liquors, .*|!(i(!5,0(M).000. He added that the 
annual amount of money sjient in tobacco was almost 
equal to that spent for illuminating juirposes, estimating 
the total at $400,(X)0,0(X>. 
Compare it in any Avay you Avill Avith the actual 
cost of nece.ssities, and the terrible Avastes of liquor 
Jind tobacco kaik more and more like ji crime. Dur¬ 
ing this past Winter in many towns and cities the 
order Inis come to shut off Jill electric lights not ac¬ 
tually needed, Avhile the rumshops Avere running 
full blast. And this nation has just pa.ssed through 
its Congre.ss an amendment to the Constitution jiro- 
hibiting the sale of liquor. Is light of less impor¬ 
tance than liquor? The Pood Admini.stration has at 
least prohibited the use of gniin in making beer. 
'I’he broAvers Avill now use rice, until the country is 
“dry.” 
The daily papers, or many of thein, .still continue 
their sneering and scolding jit the fa inner. The Ncav 
York World jirints a letter on ossified farmers, 
signed "Willy P.oy." Here is a siimple; 
I have this to say from my observations of the farmer. 
Left to him.self he Avould luivc ossified long iigo. The 
take-olT.s on the stjige are not overdraAVii. .lust look 
from the rear jit a “born farmer” and his son moving 
along a higliAA'ay some glorious Summer day. One can’t 
tell father from son. Xo sprightliness or get-uj) ani¬ 
mates (‘ither figure. 
If “Willy Boy" Avill come out of the safe proti'C- 
tion of ink and say tluit in per.son to .some fanners 
Ave cjin produce Ave guarantee that he Avill sIioav the 
"s])rightliness” in trying to climb the fence. Never 
again Avill he conipbiin that fjirmers lack any “get 
iqi.” "Ossification” mcitns turning into bone. “Willy 
Bo.A'” admits that fjirmers hiivt* not bemi “os.sitied” 
yet. but he has been! It started in his head, and 
he luis surely rl('A’elo]i('d .-i full cjise of "bonehead." 
'riiere is no help for such jioor creatures, and tin' 
daily jiapers an* giving them every chance to .spreail 
the di.sease. 
Brevities 
“;4i>ekciii.kss day" is the latest—suggested by *(he 
Avomen too. 
There is great interest in home groAving of mu.sh- 
rooms as a meat substitute. We shall tell all about it. 
Many farmers are telling us hoAV they fight croAvs in 
the eoriifield. The great majority find tar on the seed a 
sure remedy. The “scarecrow” plan seems to be out 
of dat('. 
At the Ogdensburg, N. Y., market farmers are selling 
dipped milk at eight cents a quart to customers who 
come Avith iiitchers and pails. The customer should be 
ready to Avalk part Avay to meet the producer. 
Community sugar-making is suggested for Cortland, 
N. Y. The city is full of sugar maple trees. They are 
to be tapped iind the saj) carried to a central point and 
evaporati'd. 
