1346 
HOPE FARM NOTES 
We are losing some fruit to thieves. 
All who attempt to grow fruit or vege¬ 
tables near large towns or on well-trav¬ 
eled roads must expect to find this thief 
nuisance as bad as insects. In some cases 
the loss will be 10 to 15 per cent or more 
with fruit and 50 per cent with chickens. 
I have known bands to come with cars 
and get away with a fair-sized load be¬ 
fore any general alarm could be given. 
There are all grades of these thieves. 
Some of them would be greatly insulted 
if you put such a name on them. They 
are the people who get out of a car and 
walk through the orchard and help them¬ 
selves as a matter of course. They will 
carry off a dozen big peaches or a bag 
of apples on the theory that a farm 
always has plenty and will never miss 
this small supply. If you went into then- 
house and took a pie or several loaves 
of bread or into their store and helped 
yourself there would be trouble right 
away, but a farmer is supposed to keep 
open house—and orchard. 
* * * * * 
Few of us bother about this, however, 
except, as was the case with us recently, 
they come and take the finest specimens 
of seedlings or new variety of fruit. It 
is better to say nothing and he a phil¬ 
osopher. The regular thief, who makes 
a business of taking your property, is a 
class of vermin growing rapidly in many 
localities, and needing attention. How 
shall we fight him off? Just now we are 
having a struggle with the rats in our 
house. We have tried all sorts of things, 
but when the rats get into the walls it 
is a desperate job to get them out. I am 
not ready to say yet what is best for the 
rats, but for the thieves an electric alarm, 
a good dog and a shotgun seem to be a 
good combination. I do not like a rifle, 
as no one wants to kill a petty thief. A 
charge of rock salt put into his legs will 
generally make him walk a straight path 
for awhile at least. But the most im¬ 
portant part of the combination is a good 
dog. Now I know that at once hundreds 
of dog haters will start up and say there 
is no such thing as a good dog. 
* * * * * 
I know the argument all through. I 
have been told that a dog is a lazy, 
treacherous descendant of a wild animal 
—originally no better than a wolf. lie 
is a carrier of one of the worst known 
and most horrible diseases, and it is his 
nature to kill sheep. I get it all, but 
this is no argument for or against the 
dog. My proposition is that if a poultry- 
man or a gardener or fruit grower is to 
fight thieves successfully he must have a 
good dog. I am not talking about a dog’s 
companionship or anything of that sort. 
His nose and his teeth are useful for 
protection. There is no doubt that dogs 
have been of wonderful service as pro¬ 
tectors. A little dog imported from 
France practically saved the French peo¬ 
ple in Canada by giving warning when 
Indians came. I will not debate the 
question as to whether a good dog is 
useful as a protector. The point is, what 
is a good dog? . The following question 
gives a chance for discussion. 
* * * * * 
“As I know from reading Hope Farm 
Notes, you get inquiries of all kinds, and 
I wish to impose on your good nature and 
time to ask about the Airedale dog. We 
have just had to have our collie, which 
was 14 years old, put out of his misery and 
now we want another dog, and from what 
I have read about your Airedale had 
made up my mind that that was the all- 
around dog that we wanted. But within 
the past two weeks I read about one 
killing a little girl in Troy. N. Y., after 
the woman who owned it bad kissed the 
child. We haven’t any children of our 
own. but have quite a good many here, 
off and on. as my wife and I are both 
fond of children, but wouldn’t want a dog 
that was likely to be vicious if we showed 
any attention to the children. There 
seems to be a gang working around this 
neighborhood stealing chickens, and they 
have visited ray neighbors on both sides 
of me. For that reason I want a dog 
that is a good watch dog, but at the same 
time is a good companion for children.” 
Greene Co., N. Y. J. H. 
* * * * * 
I will try to give as well as I can the 
good and bad qualities we found in the 
Airedale. It seemed to me that our dog 
had about all the good points a dog should 
have except beauty. No one can call the 
Airedale handsome. He seems to me about 
the homeliest dog ever made. Beauty, 
however, is a matter of opinion, as I 
know after listening to various descrip¬ 
tions of wife, husband <>r child—and then 
seeing the original. The Airedale has a 
quick, sound brain, and you can teach 
him anything any dog can learn When 
angry he is the most terrible fighter I 
ever saw. At the same time lie is the 
most patient and good-natured dog in tlm 
world. Our little children would pull his 
tail and ears and maul him generally, 
but he never showed any resentment He 
would just move away and wait for them. 
Let some other dog or any other animal 
approach these children and the Airedale 
was right on deck to defend them. He 
seemed to have sense enough not to at¬ 
tack until his services were needed, and 
then the rush be made for the otfhtr dog 
was a wonder. I have sent out half blood 
Airedales that gave good satisfaction at 
handling cows or other stock, though it 
‘Jht RURAL NEW-YORKER' 
has been said that this breed is not suited 
to this work. Our dog practically saved 
my life when a heifer, filled with sudden 
fury, got me down where I could not 
move. As a guard inside a chicken yard 
or around a house I can hardly imagine 
a better protector than a well-trained 
Airedale. Woe unto the thief who got 
in the way of those sharp teeth. 
***** 
As for bad qualities, we discovered 
several. The Airedale is by nature an 
adventurer. Some of them like to wander 
about. They do not stay at home, as 
some of the slower and less energetic dogs 
do. We have a number of reports from 
people who say these dogs run out of the 
yard and follow strangers away. Where 
an Airedale is kept for business it is bet¬ 
ter to keep him in a yard and at night 
turn him into the orchard or chicken 
park, where he is to act as a watchman. 
He will do the rest. The young dogs, if 
left to themselves, will often pick up the 
habit of chasing chickens and small stock. 
It is all in play, and can be quickly 
stopped if taken in time. If you let it 
grow into a fixed habit there will he 
trouble. The Airedale is very affectionate 
and loves the members of the family with 
genuine human devotion. Like all who 
show this great affection this dog is ex¬ 
ceedingly jealous. It seems to single out 
several member's of the family for special 
love, and cannot bear to feel itself second 
in their affection. I was once walking 
with a visitor over the farm with the 
Airedale close behind us. My friend was 
talking earnestly and in order to make 
me hear better he caught my arm some¬ 
what roughly and pulled me toward him. 
In an instant the Airedale was upon him 
and ripped his clothes before I could 
speak. Had I looked at the dog and said 
a word to her she would have understood 
and made no move. I do not believe the 
report that a baby was killed by an Aire¬ 
dale, but I do know how they feel toward 
their friends, and how faithful and true 
our dog was. I must state, however, that 
this is my own opinion. I took a family 
vote for best dog, and it stood St. Ber¬ 
nard seven. German shepherd two, hound 
one, collie one, Airedale one. 
***** 
I meet people who have bulldogs, var¬ 
ious terriers, collies and other breeds at 
work in the chicken yard or on the farm. 
Yes, I say at work, for these dogs are 
certainly doing good service as special 
policemen, and are fully entitled to be 
called workmen. No, I do not refer to 
the lazy drones and fat or starved mon¬ 
grels you see so frequently in driving 
through the country. It would be a good 
thing if the dog laws could be made so 
as to get rid of every one of these curs. 
I think that is to be the tendency, and 
that these mongrels will fade away just 
as the old time scrub cow is giving place 
to the good grade which clearly shows 
the makings of one of the recognized 
breeds. There is such a thing as a well- 
bred and useful dog. The curs and 
mongrels have, by their behavior, given 
all (logs a bad reputation with many. In 
any community where chicken thieves 
abound some dog of good breeding, and 
well trained to his business, will become 
just about a necessity. Just as weeds 
and plant diseases and insects increase 
and grow strong, the more certain crops 
are cultivated, so thieves seem to increase 
as the chicken business or fruit growing 
develops. We must get ready for them, 
and a well-trained dog is part of the 
equipment. I have heard of a case where 
a chicken man had a fine dog—as he 
thought—at large in the chicken yard. 
One morning the dog was gone, and they 
thought he had been poisoned. In about 
a week he was back, happy at the sight 
of his old friends. Then they thought 
the chickens must be safe with such a 
faithful guard. But one morning they 
.found all the chickens stolen and the dog 
still on guard. It seems that the thieves 
had enticed the dog away and got ac¬ 
quainted with him. Then when they 
came at night he remembered them and 
just wagged his tail and let them take 
the birds! I doubt if that trick could 
be played on an Airedale. ir. w. c. 
Trapping Woodchucks 
On page 1107 is a brief letter regarding 
the trapping of woodchucks. Contrary to 
the advice given, the best way to set the 
traps is to make a little excavation in 
the mouth of the hole, place the trap 
therein and at the full length of the chain, 
cover the trap with paper and cover the 
paper with earth. The woodchuck is 
September 13, 101!) I 
not a suspicious animal, and will step 
into a trap so covered. If not covered 
the chuck will endeavor to remove it from 
the path, and, in so doing, will probably 
spring it. When a boy I practically rid 
our farm of woodchucks by drowning 
them. My method was to place the large 
tank used in gathering sap in the maple 
sugar orchard upon a wagon, fill it with 
water, drive to the. hole and turn the 
water on. If the woodchuck was taken 
by surprise by the sudden flood of water, 
a very small quantity was sufficient to 
bring the animal to the surface. Other¬ 
wise it was necessary to fill the hole with 
water completely. I used a club to kill 
th('in when they appeared. 
The woodchuck hibernates during the 
Winter, and the fur is in prime condition 
late in the Fall, and makes nice warm 
clothing when tanned by home processes. 
Some yearn ago certain dealers attempted 
to create a market for the skins, but the 
public did not take kindly to this class 
of fur. The hides make an exceedingly 
tough, pliable leather, suitable for 
strings, whiplashes and filling for snow 
shoes. The Indians prefer it for the latter 
purpose to any other kind of rawhide. 
There are certain fatty glands along the 
breast, and, if these are removed as soon 
as the animals are killed the flesh of the 
woodchuck makes an excellent meat. If 
these glands are not immediately removed, 
the flesh will have a strong and musky 
flavor. o. o. ormsbre. 
Moldy Bread for Fertilizer 
Will you tell me the value of a ton of 
moldy bread, unfit for feeding purposes, 
as a fertilizer? c. M. c. 
New York. 
One ton of moldy bread, provided it 
does not carry more than 44 per cent of 
moisture, would yield 25 lbs. of nitrogen, 
4 lbs. of phosphoric acid and 2*4 lbs. of 
potash. Figuring these ingredients at 
their prevailing market prices, it is esti¬ 
mated that the fertility value of the ton 
of bread would be approximately .$10. Of 
course you realize that it would be a poor 
source of plant food, inasmuch as it is so 
bulky and so low in its comparative 
analysis. 
farm fower/^\ 6 ur Ford 
at One Sixth the ordinary cost 
You need this inexpensive Ford attach¬ 
ment to fill your silo, grind your grain, 
thresh, saw your winter’s wood, or handle 
any of the other jobs on the farm. 
When you have any kind of a job that requires 
power, you simply drive your Ford to the required 
position, attach the Autopower in THREE minutes, 
crank the engine—and your Ford engine and the 
Autopower do the rest. 
The Autopower runs AUTOMATICALLY. AN 
AUTOMATIC GOVERNOR regulates the power to 
the load, provides CONSTANT SPEED at required 
r.p.m., and prevents stalling or racing of engine on vari¬ 
able loads. 
An Auxiliary Fan is guaranteed to Prevent Overheat¬ 
ing under all load and weather conditions. Friction 
Clutch permits of cranking the engine before throwing 
in the load. 
The Autopower takes the power direct from the crank¬ 
shaft, and delivers the full power capacity of the engine. 
Develops 5-14 H. P. 
fuel consumption of the Autopower is about one gallon 
of gas per hour—varying slightly with condition of engine 
and nature of load. 
WE lUVE A LIBERAL PROPOSITION FOR LIVE DEALERS. Here is a practically unlimited field with an attractive proposition 
for the first comers. Wr.te_or better, wire-State distributor today for dealer’s proposition, specifying exact territory wanted? 
LOOK FOR IT AT THE FAIRS 
McGill Autopower Distributing Co., 
Sole license under Gramm Basic U. S. Patent No. 807,457, Dec. 19, 1905, 
Af. K State Distributors 
Morristown, New York 
All other Attachments are infringements and will be rigidly prosecuted. 
Knight Metal Products Co., M/rs., 803 Woodware Ave., Detroit, Mich. 
VWFUfr, 
ATTACHMENT 
FOR Sfvrcl CARS 
Efficiently Operates at Required Speeds 
GRAIN GRINDER 
ENSILAGE CUTTER 
GRAIN SEPARATOR 
BUZZ SAW 
FANNING MILL 
CORN H17SKER 
CORN SMELLER 
Cl D E 
HAY PRESS 
PUMPS (All Kinds) 
CHURN 
MILKING MACHINE 
LIGHTING PLANT 
WASHING MACHINE 
CONCRETE MIXER 
R PRESS 
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