838 
The RURAL N»E W - Y O R K E R 
change his point of view about such matters. 
FUTURE NEEDS.—Beyond a doubt the future of 
dairying and of all agriculture depends on a decent 
profit. In no other way can we get back the help 
which has gone from the hills. In no other way can 
we keep at home the boys and girls who are now 
growing up. There is room for improvement in 
methods, but the profit we have got to have. It 
would seem as if this simple proposition were self- 
evident. and yet the recent milk investigations in 
New York City would indicate that a great many 
city people either do not or will not see the truth. 
I have heard a story of a small boy on a Western 
ranch who opened the gate in a yard where some 
calves were .confined. A calf slipped out through 
the gate, and seeing some steers in the distance, 
started pell-mell after them. The boy tried to catch 
the calf, but could not keep up. Out of breath at 
last he stopped. With a last look at the disappearing 
calf he turned back. “Go it. you little fool.’' he said, 
“you’ll know the difference when supper-time comes.” 
CO-ORDINATED EFFORT.—Rut I am inclined to 
take a hopeful view of tlje future. The whole world 
has seen what co-ordinated efforts did for the Allies 
on the battlefields of Europe. Ilere at home we 
have seen what the Dairymen's League has ac¬ 
complished in the milk situation. Milk prices are 
much better than the distributors would have offered 
of their own free will. So far we have won. but the 
war, for the dairymen, is not yet over. For many 
years various interests have grown rich, because 
both producer and consumer were in their power, 
and by the same token these interests will not loosen 
their grip until they are compelled to do so. But 
farmers are finding out that when they stand firmly 
together back of a just demand it takes a mighty 
power to resist. Mighty is the power of co-operation, 
and farmers have only begun to use that power. 
THE COMING VICTORY.—As I have said, com¬ 
plete victory is not yet won, but it seems to me that 
it is inevitable. The world cannot live without food, 
and farmers cannot produce crops without reason¬ 
able compensation. It would indeed require the gift 
of prophecy to foresee exactly how and when it is 
coming about, but I firmly believe that equitable 
conditions for agriculture are coming to pass. And 
I know, too. that those who have fattened by hand¬ 
ling our products will not hand us out large portions 
of prosperity just for the asking. I am optimistic, 
yet I know the thing must be worked out with lots 
of grit and determination. Some self-sacrifice will 
be necessary, as it was during the last milk strike. 
Some writers have deplored the decadence of rural 
spirit and independence, but if I mistake not the 
spirit of our founders is not yet dead among the 
farmers from the hills.- Chester-l. mills. 
Allegany Co., N. Y. 
The Wheat Situation 
HE United States Chamber of Commerce issues 
the map shown at Fig. 221 to describe the 
condition of Winter wheat. This condition is gen¬ 
erally good—far better than the usual condition 
after a mild, open Winter. It is a new thing to 
have 25 per cent of the Winter wheat grown at the 
South, though that is true of this season. It shows 
how farming is changing and how the South is 
increasing its bread supply. The present estimate 
is that Winter wheat will run close to 900,000,000 
bushels, nearly one-third more than the big crop of 
1914. The outlook for Spring wheat is not so good, 
as wet and cool weather has somewhat delayed 
seeding. It seems, however, that there will be a 
small increase in acreage. As to the foreign situa¬ 
tion, India and Russia will probably have short 
crops, while most of the other wheat-producing 
countries will produce the usual quantities or show 
an increase. This country and Canada will have a 
great surplus for export, but we believe that the 
demand will be so heavy that it will all be absorbed. 
It will, however, prove a tremendous job to harvest 
and handle this wheat under present labor condi¬ 
tions. 
Wheat Prices to Farmers 
I have my 1918 wheat oil hand, and upon looking up 
the price millers and dealers here are paying, find the 
best that I can get offered is $2.15 per bn. I notice so 
much in the papers about the Government having fixed 
the price at $2.26, and how much it was liable to lose 
because the expected crop was to be so large. I wish 
you would inform me whether the Government will 
make up the difference between price here, and the 
fixed price, and what steps I would have to take to get 
same. u - L - 
Ira, N. Y. 
HIS was referred to the United States Grain Cor¬ 
poration, and the following reply is sent by Sec¬ 
retary W. S. Moore. It seems that the guaranteed 
price is paid only at certain “terminal points.” A 
farmer at some distance from these points must pay 
the cost of conveying the grain to that market. That 
is, he can only get at his local market the guaranteed 
price, less the estimated cost of shipping. In the 
case mentioned here this cost seems to be figured at 
11 cents per bushel. 
The Government guaranteed price is for No. 1 wheat 
(other grades at relative difference) and is effective at 
terminal points. For instance, $2.26 at Chicago and 
$ 2 , 391/2 at New York. 
You are right in your assumption that the way to get 
at the price at a country shipping point is to deduct 
freight and reasonable handling charges for the handler 
or mill at the shipping point. 
At the present time the practical thing for this cor¬ 
respondent of yours to do, if his wheat is good, is to 
ship it to the terminal market at New York, if he can 
accumulate a carload, to some commission merchant 
who will be able to secure for him a price which at the 
present time is in excess of the Government guaranteed 
basis. 
The only regulation now in existence on the elevator 
or mill, as to prices they should pay, is the profit regula¬ 
tion, which requires that profits shall be reasonable. 
Preparing for the Grain Crop 
HE following letter gives the situation which 
will soon confront many of our farmers: 
I find upon inquiring that the grain shocking attach¬ 
ment for binders will not be sold the coming Summer. 
This, we understand, is due to the device not being per¬ 
fected as yet. We hear that it has been worked to some 
degree, but they do uot feel that they can guarantee it 
in the way the public demands. Now I am writing you 
for a little further information which might be of con¬ 
siderable value to us, as we are confronted with the 
prospect of the biggest wheat harvest in our career and 
probably the greatest shortage of help to handle the 
work. We want to learn whether or not Winter wheat 
can be taken direct from the binder and thrashed suc¬ 
cessfully. thus avoiding all the labor of shocking, haul¬ 
ing into barns and stacks and pitched out again to the 
thrasher. We have frequently hauled from the field to 
Condition of the Winter Wheat Crap. Fig. 221 
a thrashing machine, but this was always after the grain 
had gone past the sweating period and become perfectly 
dry. So the question is simply “Will the wheat thrash 
properly the day it is cut?” This is not Spring wheat, 
Lut it would be ripe w r hen cut. H. B. K. 
Ontario Co., N. Y. 
Will it be possible to thrasli the grain immediately 
after harvest? We have had various reports, and we 
conclude that the answer will depend very largely 
upon the season. If it is very dry and the grain can 
be housed, so that it can be thoroughly aired, the 
thrashing can he done promptly. In a wet season 
there would be considerable risk in thrashing at once. 
It is a big problem with many of our people, and we 
would like to have a full discussion by those who 
have experiences to offer. General advice and theory 
will not be of any particular value in this case. 
The Header and Thrasher 
On page 391, H. Iv., of Ontario Co., N. Y., writes in 
regard to harvesting machines. The header to which 
you refer is what is known as a harvesting and thrash¬ 
ing machine. The header is a machine used in some 
part of all West Central States. This is a machine 
which cuts oft heads of wheat, taking just enough straw 
to insure getting all the wheat, and delivers it into a 
header-barge, mounted on ordinary wagon trucks, and 
pitched from barge onto the stack. On account of 
humidity of air in this State. I do not believe this 
method of handling crop would be successful, as it 
would probably heat in stack. To handle crop in this 
manner requires at least 10 head of horses or mules, and 
six men. About the shocking attachment for binders, 
will say it is of questionable value. On comparatively 
level, smooth land, it will set some shocks almost per¬ 
fectly, but it is necessary for a man to follow binder and 
arrange majority of shocks. I have had experience with 
all these machines, and handled hundreds of acres of 
wheat, and believe the average farmer of this State can 
handle grain to no better advantage than with a good 
binder and two men to shock. J. M. w. 
Schoharie Co., N. Y. 
HE machine we refer to is a comparatively small 
device, operated successfully in the dry regions 
of Idaho and nearby States. We had a picture of it 
last Fall. It is not the ordinary header, which is in 
quite common use on many of the large Western 
wheat farms. This smaller machine cuts the grain, 
carries it up to a small separator at the top, thrashes 
or separates the grain, and drops it into bags, the 
straw being dumped out behind. This machine was 
made expressly for the conditions found in that dry 
country. There is no rain during harvest time, and 
the grain matures on the plant. A variety of wheat 
is used which has a peculiar habit of holding close to 
May 17, 1919 
the head and is not easily shelled out. The machine 
is successful under those Western conditions, but 
would not work to advantage in our humid climate. 
The varieties of wheat grown on the Atlantic 
slope would be more likely to shell during harvest, 
and if cut before the grain was fully ripe there 
would be considerable danger of heating and spoiling. 
A good many of our Eastern farmers will soon be 
face to face with their wheat problem. They have 
made a heavy seeding of wheat, and will have very 
much more to cut than they ever attempted to har¬ 
vest before. It must be harvested at just the right 
time, and they lack storage facilities for holding 
large quantities of the grain. 
Values of Milk and Meat as Food 
ROF. THOS. WRIGHT of South Dakota figures 
out the comparative values of milk and meat 
prices as follows: 
Meats must not cost more than these prices 
If milk costs f -per pound for same food value--— 
per quart Round steak Sirloin Mutton Ham 
10c. 14c 16c 20c 26e 
11 c. 15c ISc 22e 29c 
12 c. 17c 20c 23c 31c 
13c. 18c 21c 25c 34c 
14c. 19c 23c 27.c 36c 
15c. 21c 24c 29c 39c 
This means that when you can buy a quart of milk 
for 10 cents you should not pay over 16 cents for 
sirloin steak or 26 cents for a pound of ham—if you 
are figuring on food values, of course, most of us 
like meat. It is something we can chew, and we 
like the taste of it. In order to gratify these tastes, 
however, there is no good reason why we should pay 
more than the meat is worth. Not only does the milk 
furnish the bodily nourishment, but it also supplies 
this nourishment in the best form for growth and 
vigor. There are now about 6,000.000 people grouped 
at the mouth of the Hudson River. They use. each 
day, about 2.000.000 quarts of milk, or one-third of a 
quart each. They ought to average one quart each. 
The big problem is how to make them realize it and 
thus provide a market for 6.000.000 quarts daily. 
That Sinclairville, N. Y. Milk Problem 
N further discussion of the milk problem at Sin¬ 
clairville, in Chautauqua County, New York, we 
have no local plant now except Borden’s, at Hartfield. 
The other nearest plant is 15 miles away. 
The Borden’s Company at this place bought and dis¬ 
mantled all the cheese factories and creameries for miles 
around, so there is no outlet for this locality except to 
sell to them. A few farmers who have had their milk 
rejected have separators, hut have no ice, so it is im¬ 
possible to make butter in warm weather. They could 
have put in ice, but all League members depended on 
getting their milk into the coudensery. Some have been 
forced to sell their cows. The excuse the Borden’s Com¬ 
pany have for not receiving the milk is that they did not 
agree to take any surplus of milk. Some of the farmers 
who have been rejected have sent milk to this plant ever 
since it operated here until the strike was declared in 
January. They have taken 12 new dairies and still call 
the old ones surplus. 
We had a similar trouble last year, but on account of 
the war the Food Administration agent came here and 
ordered them to take care of the milk, and they did. 
With that experience before them we do not understand 
why the League did not look after its members here 
when the settlement was made. In March Borden’s 
superintendent told me he would take my milk April 1, 
but I called him up when I was ready to ship, and while 
he admitted having told me to send it. he then refused 
to accept it. Last year they were getting 125.000 lbs. 
of milk at the plant here. Now they are getting only 
90.000 lbs. H. E. L. 
Sinclairville, N. Y. 
Daylight Saving on the Farm 
Here is an opinion on daylight saving from a woman. 
I have seen many articles printed, written by men ob¬ 
jecting to daylight saving, and I would like to express 
my opinion on it in language that only men are supposed 
to use. Let some of these who like it so well take my 
work awhile; get up in the morning, get breakfast for 
nine people, put up six dinners, see six children ready 
for school, comb two heads of long hair, and on a farm 
where we have to go by God’s sunshine to get the men’s 
work done, and perhaps they might see some use in 
school beginning at nine o’clock instead of eight. Do 
not let go for a minute as long as there is any hope of 
making them put the time where it belongs. Keep 
hammering. I'll help if given half a chance, o. b. a. 
W E would like to see a few of the “daylight 
savers” get up in time to do this woman's work 
.and then try to make up their sleep in the early part 
of the night. We have been told that all the city 
people favor the new law. That is a mistake. We 
receive many letters from town and city workmen 
protesting against it. No one has yet given us a 
practical reason why a law was needed. What farm¬ 
ers object to is the fact that this offensive and un¬ 
needed law was “put over” on them against their 
wishes. If this can be done with “daylight saving” 
it can and will be done with other and more danger¬ 
ous laws, unless we can kill the practice and the prin¬ 
ciple of it. The thing to do Is to send your grievance 
and your facts to Senator Arthur Capper, Washing¬ 
ton. D. C. Your opinion will not count for so much. 
Send facts. 
