1894 
The Rural New-Yorker 
THE ECS LX ESS FARMER'S PAPER 
A National Weekly Journal lor Country and Suburban Home* * 
Established isso 
Pnblislu-d uc*ekly by the Kural Pulilishltig: Company, 383 Vest 30th Street,Now Vork 
Herbert XX, Collingwood, President and Editor. 
John j. Dillon, Treasurer and General Mating; r. 
Wm, F. Dillon, Secretary. Mlts. E. X. Koylk. Associate Editor. 
SUBSCRIPTION • ONE DOLLAR A YEAR 
To foreign countries in the Vniversal Postal Union. $2.01. equal to Ss. 6d., or 
marks, or lOG francs. Remit. in money order, express 
order, personal cheek or bank draft. 
Entered at New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. 
Advertising rates, 18 cents per agate line—7 words. Deferences required tor 
advertisers unknown to us ; 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 jxissible precaution and admit the advertising of 
reliable houses only. But to make doubly sure, we will make good any loss 
to |-aid 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 
others to this 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 1 honest bankrupts sanctioned by the courts, 
Notice of the complaint must be sent to us within one month or the time of 
the transaction, and to identify it. you should mention The Rural Nkw- 
Yorkkr when writing the advertiser. 
T HE New Jersey State Horticultural Society had 
a great meeting at Atlantic City last week. It 
was well attended, and in connection with the State 
Grange meeting made up a notable gathering. There 
was a magnificent display of apples. For its size 
we think the display was about the finest in color 
and quality ever seen in the country. It is not so 
many years since the “authorities” claimed that 
South Jersey is out of the “apple belt.” Had any 
of those authorities been present at last week’s 
meeting they would have been obliged to tighten up 
their belt at one look at these apples. The New 
Jersey people have been little inclined to brag or 
advertise their accomplishments, but on their thumb 
of an island they are surely raising something be¬ 
sides “trusts and mosquitoes.” 
* 
EPORTS show that New York farmers are using 
more Alsike clover than .ever before. This is 
a good showing. Alsike clover will grow on many 
soils which are too sour to grow Red clover profitably. 
The increase of Alsike shows that farmers are 
studying the fertility question and learning more 
and more to adapt their crops to the proper soils. 
Another thing we learn is that Grimm Alfalfa 
is having a far greater sale than seed of common 
Alfalfa, even though the Grimm seed is far more 
expensive. Both Grimm and Cossack Alfalfa are 
superior to the old sorts. They give a better yield, 
and are more hardy and less inclined to be thrown 
out by the frost. The branching surface roots will 
hold the plants firmly in the soil and give them a 
better range for feeding. Alsike clover will save 
many a hill farm where the soil is too sour for Red 
clover or Alfalfa. 
* 
MAN of many names is “Joseph R. Ratten.” 
Some of our readers may remember him as 
Henry Anderson or J. R. Harper. Under all these 
names and others this rascal has been soliciting 
shipments of produce from farmers, promising prices 
above the market figures. When he got the produce 
he turned it over to a confederate and pocketed his 
share of the money, while the farmer got "taffy” 
and a zero dollar. When one place got too hot for 
him he went to a new stand and opened up under a 
new name. He served a term in a Louisiana prison 
and was sent to a Kansas jail. From this he was 
pardoned, on the plea that he had tuberculosis! 
When once released he promptly recovered and 
started his old tricks. They caught him, and now 
Judge Howe of Montpelier, Yt., has sent him to The 
Atlanta prison for 10 years. They caught him on 
a charge of using the mails to defraud. This is 
good work, the only regret being that some 5.000 
other crooks cannot go with him where stone walls 
and steel bars will compel them to walk a straight 
and narrow path. They never can do it without 
these aids. 
* 
C ONGRESS has been flooded with bills proposed 
to aid farmers. Of course the great majority 
of them cannot he passed. Only one or two can 
hope even for a public discussion. These bills cover 
al! possible suggestions, but the one most likely to 
be considered is the Gronna bill or resolution. This 
provides, first, that activities of the War Finance 
Corporation, suspended by Secretary of the Treasury 
Houston last May, he revived; and second, that the 
Federal Reserve Board be instructed to extend 
credit on agricultural security to a greater extent 
than has been done by member banks in the Federal 
reserve system. This plan was at first opposed by 
Senators from the manufacturing States, who 
claimed that many small manufacturers are as 
badly off as farmers. To meet this objection the 
plan was made broader, so that, the Finance Cor¬ 
poration may at its discretion include “other indus- 
lhe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
trios.” Secretary Houston opposed this plan, but 
Congress will disregard his advice. It is also pre¬ 
pared to overrule the President’s veto if need be. 
In the meantime the Farm Bureau Federation at 
its annual meeting presented the following as its 
legislative program: 
The immediate enactment of a new tariff law; simpli¬ 
fication of the Income Tax Law, with a provision pre¬ 
venting Treasury officials from making interpretative 
ruling as to. the law’s application; a law assuring 
farmers of unrestricted right to bargain collectively; 
Federal control of all interstate agencies dealing in 
grain products and meat; the enactment of a truth-in¬ 
fabrics bill; legislative prohibition of short selling in 
agricultural products, and amendment of Transportation 
act so as to preserve State regulation of interstate 
commerce and car movement. The resolutions also 
declared opposition to any daylight saving law. 
There is no question now that Congress realizes 
the gravity of the present farm situation. We 
think it will go to the limit in trying to help. It 
cannot do all—we must all help. Some of our 
readers no doubt have mortgages and other paper 
given by farmers who cannot meet these obligations 
unless they have extensions or credit. To push 
them now would ruin them. There is one opportuni¬ 
ty to do personally what we are asking the govern¬ 
ment to do, and that is extend credit until our 
debtors can get on their feet. This is what we con¬ 
sider the first principles of business co-operation, 
and that very much bigger thing we call American¬ 
ism. If we all do this and stop useless complaining 
we shall get out of this trouble and stand on firm 
ground. 
* 
The enclosed clipping may interest you. It reads 
with a familiar sound, and while the statement may be 
on the level, there are doubts that the foundation for the 
article is substantial. The common belief is that, prop¬ 
erly approached, the-will sell any part of 
its space. x. g. t. 
HE article is a well-written report of one of the 
greatest frauds ever offered the public. It. is 
written in a sensational way and disguised as a re¬ 
porter’s story. There are many people who believe 
all they read in the daily papers. How they can 
possibly be so childish is beyond understanding, yet 
they seem ready to believe any fairy tale which the 
papers see fit to print. There are thousands if not 
millions living in our large cities who suffer from 
•malnutrition of the mind. Within easy reach of the 
finest libraries in the world these people read noth¬ 
ing except some yellow daily paper which appeals 
to their prejudices and lack of reasoning power. 
These are the people who accuse the farmer of 
“dense ignorance.” The truth is that there is far 
more reading of strong and thought-making books in 
the country than in the city. Malnutrition of the 
mind is much the same as the condition which 
dwarfs the body. The body is helped by drinking 
milk—the mind by absorbing “the milk of human 
kindness.” 
* 
T HE convention of Governors recently held at 
Harrisburg. Pa., appointed a committee of five 
—two from the Gulf States, two from the West, and 
one from New England—to consider the financial sit¬ 
uation of American farmers. Here is part of their 
report: 
Let every individual do all he can to help and encour¬ 
age his neighbor. Let there be a complete mobilization 
of the financial and spiritual assets of every community. 
Neither God nor government ought to be asked to help 
those who do not first make every effort possible to help 
themselves. There ought to be a united effort in every 
community to keep any good man from being destroyed 
because lie cannot immediately meet his obligations. 
Under existing conditions it would bo the acme of in¬ 
humanity and of unwisdom to force any debtor into 
bankruptcy if by the most liberal indulgence he would 
be ultimately able to pay. Business failures do more 
than wreck business; they ofttimes destroy man. 
All the Governors agreed that the farmers have 
just produced the most expensive crop ever grown in 
this country. The slump in farm prices will ruin 
thousands of farmers if they are denied credit or 
extension of their obligations. It is not likely that 
the government will give any direct help. It is more 
a case of local assistance, and the common safety 
requires that creditors should be liberal and patient. 
We believe that in the North and West at least there 
is money and credit enough in every agricultural 
county to carry every farmer until he can get on his 
feet. The use of that money and credit at home is 
..ne good way to cut loose from “Wall Street." 
* 
E well remember how 25 or 30 years ago the 
meat monopoly was working into our East¬ 
ern districts. At that time there were still many 
local butcher shops where cattle, sheep and hogs 
were bought and slaughtered. A butcher in those 
days was something more than a meat cutter. Fann¬ 
ers supplied most *.f the live stock lulled by these 
local butchers. There was some local competition, 
people were served with good meat, and the business 
December IS, 1020 
of fattening stock was profitable. Far-sighted farm¬ 
ers of that day saw what was coining. Twenty-five 
years ago The R. N.-Y. printed Hie opinion of such 
men as Col. Curtis, J. S. Woodward, Prof. I. P. 
Roberts and others. They agreed that there was only 
one way to prevent Hie spread of this monopoly. 
That was for farmers to organize and keep alive the 
country slaughter-houses, fatten stock on their own 
farms and 11ms hold the trade of the country and 
town. That would have required capital, which 
might have been provided in the money which the 
farmers were then sending to town for investment. 
This plan fell through for lack of capital and co¬ 
operative interest. Properly handled, it would have 
confined the meat trust to the cities and given them 
strong competition. Our farmers did not see the 
point in-time to save the business. This makes it 
harder to control our business now, but the old fail¬ 
ure should make us work harder for a newer success. 
* 
NEW suggestion for using annual Sweet clover 
is to seed it in Spring and plow under a good 
growth in preparation for Alfalfa. The Sweet clover 
would give a large amount of organic matter and fill 
the soil with the needed bacteria. We do not know 
of anything that could do these things better. This, 
of course, refers to sections where Alfalfa is seeded 
in late Summer. In many places Spring seeding is 
preferred, but in our own latitude seeding in August 
is more satisfactory. 
* 
T is claimed that the Canning Crop Association of 
New York saved to the farmers of this State at 
least $750,000. This was done through organizing 
to maintain prices. The growers of canning crops 
are now to form a national or interstate association. 
In that case a general manager can be employed 
and a country-wide organization perfected. Next 
season will witness a hard battle for prices. The 
canners say prices must all come down, blit farmers 
are figuring costs very carefully, and will demand a 
fair margin. The canners would not take kindly to 
any suggestion of selling their goods for less than 
they cost! 
* 
HE papers are printing little fragments of news 
to indicate what Judge Miller and the Repub¬ 
lican leaders propose to do about primary elections. 
We imagine these little hints are put out as “feel¬ 
ers” in order to learn the temper of the people. We 
shall wait until the new Governor makes some offi¬ 
cial statement before getting into the battle. As 
reported to us, the politicians and political man¬ 
agers want the primary law repealed. A majority 
of our farmers are opposed to repeal, with a minor¬ 
ity quite indifferent and inclined to follow the poli¬ 
ticians. We think we can promise them a lively bat¬ 
tle whenever they get ready to show their hand. 
* 
A few weeks ago we had an “Apple Week” in Roch¬ 
ester. All through that week the retailers sold apples 
at 5c each. Who is to blame? It seems to me the 
farmers. No firm advertises its goods and then leaves 
another to reap the benefits. if. K. 
ITE same thing has happened in other places. 
“Apple Week” was celebrated with consider¬ 
able noise in the papers, and the dealers proceeded 
to raise the price of fruit. The result was that the 
few who started in to buy extra apples ran against 
the high prices and called the farmer a “profiteer.” 
And only a few miles away apples were rotting on 
the ground. Here is a sample report from a place 
tvithin a few miles- of Rochester: 
In my orchard there are probably 1,000 bu. of fine 
Baldwins on the ground under the snow. Buyers 
would not. offer enough so that my tenant could afford 
to pick and pack or haul nine miles to railroad for 75c a 
hundred. So all go to the cider mill later. 
Now these apples, and thousands of barrels like 
them, could have been sold had there been any or¬ 
ganization capable of bringing them to market and 
distributing them. In this great city there are at 
least two million people who will not average half a 
dozen apples each during the entire Winter. They 
ought to eat an apple each day, and would do it if 
the fruit could be brought to them at a fair price. 
Such distribution would have turned the horrible 
waste of this year into a profit. It is clear now that 
not one of the present distributors will ever do this. 
We hare got to do it ourselves —with our own 
organization. 
Brevities 
All play and no work makes Jack a mere shirk. 
One of our readers says he finds people who are “as 
selfish as a shell fish.” 
Well, the hens are forced into daylight saving wheth¬ 
er they vote for it or not. They are not consulted. 
A reader wants to know where to buy machinery for 
making candy and concrete coffins! We hope there is 
no direct connection. 
