1410 
< Dk RURAL NEW-YORKER 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE BUSINESS FARMER'S PAPER 
A Notional Weekly Journal for Country and Suburban Home* * 
Established iSSO 
Pnbhihed weekly by the Rural Publishlnp Company, 888 West SOtb Street,New Jork 
Herbert W. Colling wood, President and Editor. 
JOHN J. Dillon, Treasurer and General Manager. 
Wh. F. Dillon, Secretary. Mrs. E. T. Koyle. Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION- ONE DOLLAR A YEAR 
To foreign countries in tho Universal Postal Union. $2.04. equal to 8s. 6d., or 
81$ marks, or lOV* francs. Remit in money order, express 
order, personal check or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates, qj cents per agate line—7 words. References required for 
advertisers unknown to us j and cash must accompany transient orders. 
“A SQUARE DEAL” 
We believe that every advertisement, in this paper is backed by a respon¬ 
sible person. We use every possible precaution and admit the advertising of 
reliable houses only. But to make doubly sure, we will make good any loss 
to paid subscribers sustained by trusting any deliberate swindler, irrespon¬ 
sible advertisers or misleading advertisements in our columns, and any 
such swindler will be publicly exposed. We are also often called upon 
to adjust differences or mistakes between our subscribers and honest, 
responsible houses, whether advertisers or not. We willingly use our good 
offices to Ibis end, but such cases should not be confused with dishonest 
transactions. We protect subscribers against rogues, but we will not be 
responsible for the debts of honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts. 
Notice of the complaint must be sent to us within one month of tho time of 
the transaction, and to identify it, you should mention The Rural New- 
Yorker when writing the advertiser. 
S OME of our people find fault with the costs of 
growing crops as often figured by farmers. 
For example, we have printed a number of esti¬ 
mates which run from $150 up as the cost of growing 
one acre of potatoes. The critics alluded to scold at 
this and say the estimate is excessive. The best 
answer to them is the fact that prominent insurance 
companies have this year insured potato ci’ops at 
from $200 to $250 per acre. In issuing such insurance 
the cost of the crop acre was figured, and also the 
probable income at market prices. No one would 
expect a conservative insurance company to over¬ 
insure any property. They will not take risk on too 
high a valuation. If they accept $200 as a fair cost 
of growing an acre of potatoes, and will take a 
chance on it against the weather, it is good evidence 
that the cost estimate is fair. 
* 
T HE older scientists held that the kernels of 
wheat or oats formed a perfect ration for hu¬ 
man beings. In some of the old books wheat is 
referred to as “life,” or what we would now call 
a complete food. It has now been shown that 
neither wheat nor oats, though showing a high 
analysis in the so-called feeding elements, will fully 
support growth in a young animal. It was found 
that the guinea pig, an animal frequently used in 
feeding experiments, rarely fails to develop scurvy 
when restricted to a diet of oats. Raw milk was 
found to be a cure for this oat scurvy. From this 
fact has been developed one of the most valuable 
lessons in nutrition. No grain product alone, either 
as bread or in any of the “cereal” forms, is a full 
ration for children. It lacks the elements which 
promote growth. It is not possible to produce full 
growth in any young animal when fed on grains or 
seeds alone. This refers to a calf when fed on 
some “milk substitute” entirely, and to a child fed 
on cereals and meat without a fair supply of milk. 
Pure butter on the bread, and milk and cream with 
the cereals, are absolutely necessary for the growing 
child. There can be no substitute for butter fat 
and milk sugar: perhaps the nearest approach to 
it is found in certain fruits and vegetables like or¬ 
anges, apples and tomatoes or cabbage. These mod¬ 
ern discoveries are to prove of vast importance to 
dairying, for milk and butter are shown to be abso¬ 
lutely essential to child life and to elderly people. 
* 
T HE public markets at Endicott and Johnson 
City, N. Y., are probably as successful as any 
in the State. Large quantities of food are sold 
direct to consumers. Each producer receives a bonus 
in addition to his sales. A novel feature of these 
markets is the plan of fixing a maximum price for 
farm produce. On each day the market master 
posts a set of prices which are to mark the limit at 
which produce is sold. Goods may be sold for less 
than these figures, but in no cases shall higher prices 
be charged. The object of this is to prevent 
“profiteering” and to gain and hold the confidence of 
buyers. As a rule, the market prices run somewhat 
lower than prices at the stores. This is sound pol¬ 
icy, for there is no reason why these consumers 
should come to the market and carry their goods 
home unless they can make a bargain by doing so. 
The argument at these markets is that a workman 
can buy his supplies cheaper than he can raise them 
in a garden, and the farmers must make good on 
that argument in order to hold their trade. This 
plan of fixing a maximum price on the market is 
an experiment, and we shall watch it with great 
interest. 
* 
D URING the week ending August 21 our annual 
Sweet clover reached a height of 45 inches— 
just 10 weeks after the seed was put in the ground. 
Its growth is by no means finished. No; we have 
not gone crazy over this clover. We never had a 
saner idea of what a new plant may do for us, and 
we want all our readers to understand something 
of its possibilities. As a manurial crop to follow 
early potatoes or other garden crops, we think this 
clover will prove remarkable. With an acre of this 
clover growing on good soil we should feel as if 
some kind-hearted neighbor had decided to come 
once a week and scatter r ton of manure over the 
acre. Wo have good neighbors, but not one has 
ever volunteered any such service. That kindly 
act has been reserved for the Hon. A. 8. Clover. 
We nominate him for the congress of nitrates. It 
is reported that one canning company in the West 
has paid $5 a pound for 20 bushels of this clover 
seed. This reminds us to caution readers about 
buying this seed from irresponsible dealers. You 
cannot distinguish the seed from that of the old 
two-year clover. 
* 
D URING the war many country women attempted 
too much work. They were busy enough at 
home, but the Red Cross, the Liberty Loan cam¬ 
paigns and numberless other calls appealed to them, 
and they went beyond their strength. When the 
war ended we wondered if such women would be 
content to go back to their homes and children, and 
forget the excitement and unrest. Some of them 
were wise enough to do so. Others fell victims to 
the numberless “drives” which swept over the coun¬ 
try, and went back to the public work in addition 
to their home duties. One of them who tried this 
makes the following report: 
It didn’t work. I broke down completely, and am 
still trying to get over it. It lias been a good lesson, 
and I am convinced that country people have plenty 
of excitement and interest right here at home, and city 
people far too much. We don’t need to be stirred up 
any more, hut to be quieted down. 
She is right. We all need to quiet down and 
make more of our homes. It is time to call a halt 
sternly and emphatically on the “drives” which 
have already driven too many people close to in¬ 
sanity. If certain politicians and “leaders” can 
bring it about there will be another great excite¬ 
ment over woman suffrage and voting. We have had 
enough excitement to last a long time. It is time 
to quiet down. 
* 
As for calling a meeting of farmers, as mentioned, 
will say I would favor it, as the farmers have no or¬ 
ganization similar to the political parties; hut. as long 
as we have a primary law, I am opposed to “unofficial 
conventions,” and the attempt to dragoon voters into 
voting for the men suggested at. such and to induce all 
others not to be candidates at the primary. 
New York. w. w. Barclay. 
HAT seems to express the opinion of thousands 
of our readers. Country people know that the 
primary election, if fairly used, is their best po¬ 
litical protection. We predict that they will fight 
for it, and put up such a savage fight that the poli¬ 
ticians will not dare to carry out their plans for 
killing the primary. And let us say in all serious¬ 
ness that nothing but a big and impressive showing 
this year will ever save the primary. Do not spend 
time or energy abusing the bosses, telling what a 
fearful thing you are going to do. Those bosses are 
used to that treatment. They only grow fat on it. 
It is the silent vote that will get to them. Make it 
a point to turn out and vote at the primary, and 
see that the women folks, the boys and the hired 
men all go along to fill the ballot box. A full ballot 
box is more effective than a full dinner pail as a 
campaign argument. No one can say The R. N.-Y. 
has not done its full duty in fighting for this pri¬ 
mary privilege. Xoiv icill you do your duty? 
T HIS sweltering August has-carried most of us 
very far from thoughts of ice and snow banks. 
The past two fierce Winters have taught us that the 
highways must be kept open in some way. It is 
time now to plan for the work, and we suggest a 
new study of the big snow rollers which were de¬ 
scribed in The It. N.-Y. on page 900. This big roller 
seems to be superior to the sled or snowplow. They 
get a better roadbed by packing the snow down 
rather than by scraping it out. At any rate, now 
is the time to plan for next Winter’s snow campaign. 
* 
S OME of our readers have criticized Mrs. Willcox 
(the “Plain Farm Woman”), because she lias not 
fallen in with the most popular side of farm com¬ 
plaint. It must be said, however, that she has 
given us all something to think about. We must 
remembex’, too, that the progress of the world is 
affected by thought rather than words. A bunch 
of woi’ds may hold a mu.’ up and force him to stand 
still. The power of a burning thonsrht may give him 
the driving force to smash over the words. Mrs. 
Willcox made a good suggestion last week. She 
September 4, 1920 
wants a clear-cut. strong discussion as to why some 
of the hill farmers succeed while many other fail? 
We all know that there are these two classes of 
farmers. What makes the diffei'ence between them? 
That gets right down to the vital question of fann¬ 
ing, and we are glad to open our columns to the 
discussion. Let it be l’ight to the point, though. 
Boasting of success or complaining about failure 
will never get us anywhere. We know there are 
some who succeed, and it is sadly true that many 
fail. But why? What we want is a fair analysis 
of success or failure. 
* 
Will yon toll us whether the rural schools arc com¬ 
pelled to hove 40 weeks of school the coming year? Our 
school superintendent says we must have 40 weeks, not 
to begin until September 7. We usually have three or 
four weeks’ vacation for potato-digging, as we are in 
the heart of the potato country, and as help is so scarce 
if is very necessary that we have the help of our chil¬ 
dren. L. E. 
New York. 
W E have had several questions similar to the 
above and referred this one to the State De¬ 
partment. The following reply is made: 
The law does not require that school he in session 
this year for a term of 40 weeks. The requirement 
that school he in session for at least 180 days has not 
been changed, hut in the event that school is not. main¬ 
tained during the present school year for 40 weeks, the 
additional teacher's quota apportioned under the pro¬ 
visions of Chapter 080 of the Laws of 1920 must be 
reduced proportionately. This law provides in sub¬ 
stance that teachers employed in common school dis¬ 
tricts shall he paid at a salary which shall he not less 
than at the rate of $800 for a school year of 40 weeks. 
It further provides that: 
“If such teacher shall be paid at such rate for a 
school year of less than 40 weeks, the quota apportioned 
to such district on account of such teacher as provided 
herein shall be reduced proportionately.” 
You will therefore observe that while the school is 
not required to be in session for more than 36 weeks, it 
must he in session for 40 weeks if it. is to receive the 
full additional teacher’s quota as provided in the new 
salai-y law. irwin Esmond. 
That should make it clear to all. The State can¬ 
not. compel you to maintain the school for more than 
36 weeks, but it can withhold part of the school 
money unless the extra four weeks are given. 
* 
T HE one outstanding thing about’the referendum 
vote which Ttie It. N.-Y. has conducted is the 
fact that farmers, left to themselves and not driven 
by partisan politics, will never select the candi¬ 
dates usually wished on them by the politicians. 
The men and women who took the ti'ouble to vote 
in this referendum represent the ei’eaxn of country 
thought and intelligence. We know from the let¬ 
ters which accompanied most of the ballots that 
there is a sincei’e spirit of independence which the 
cynical “leaders” are incapable of understanding. 
, All our farmers need is opportunity and a sincere, 
self-sacrificing leader—a truly great man who will 
stand, not for any class alone, but for the living 
rights of humanity. These people have instinctively 
voted for the men who seem to stand for ideals of 
some sort. The vote is in no way an expression of 
political advantage, but it shows a desire for better 
conditions. Your politician always has a keen scent 
for danger. The political managers see in this vote, 
and in many other similar events, the surest evi¬ 
dence that the rank and file of votei’s are tired of 
wading in the mud of practical politics. The voters 
want to get up to higher ground, and the politicians 
know it. That is one chief reason why there is 
this effort to kill off the primary, either by repeal 
ing the law or tagging certain candidates at a “con¬ 
vention.” and that is why the plain people of New 
Yoi’k should stand for the primary with all the 
power they possess. To abandon it will be like an 
army handing its weapons over to the enemy. The 
best constructive work in this year’s primary cai’. 
be done by supporting only those candidates for the 
Legislature who will pledge themselves to stand 
for the farm interests. We would not vote for any 
man or woman who hesitates for an instant on 
this primary question. As things now are, we think 
the most effective vote of pi*otest this year is to 
support Senator George F. Thompson in the Repub¬ 
lican primary for Governor. 
Brevities 
It is a fact that woodchuck moat Jls quoted on tho 
public market at Johnson City, N. Y., at 20 cents a 
pound. 
Well, this weather seems to suit one class of hired 
help at least—tho honey-bees. There seems to be a 
good crop of honey. 
It seems that a woman has boon appointed a 8tato 
geologist. That leads Mrs. Cynic to say “Why not. 
Some women spend their lives very close to an oki 
fossil!” 
The ostrich-plume business is “coming back.’ In 
tho last 20 years $60,000,000 worth of these plumes 
have been imported. But why not a “drive” to substi¬ 
tute lion and turkey feathers for those ornaments. 
Here is a chance for a hen woman’s feather league. 
