c Jbt RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
1071 
Things To Think About 
Where Farm Advertising 
Failed 
There is nothing like advertising but 
even the advertising 0 f farm products can 
be overdone, as witness the following: 
An acquaintance of mine combined his 
professional work with that of running a 
small farm, a very small farm, in fact 
most anyone would call it a truck farm 
or garden. He had borrowed most of the 
money and got along very well for a 
few years, making improvements and put¬ 
ting about all the money he could get 
hold of into them. 
He became a great ginseng enthusiast, 
and I must admit he was in a very fav¬ 
orable way to make a nice lot of money. 
He had experimented and got all the in¬ 
formation possible for a number of years, 
and had not jumped right into the game 
without due consideration. Well, finally 
he had out a great plot of ground with 
the finest lot of ginseng, I think, that 
ever grew in one piece of ground. In 
fact I never knew of so large a lot of 
ginseng together. He was vere secre¬ 
tive about the whole matter, and almost 
no one knew anything concerning the 
plant. He had now worked about four 
years for the crop, and was in the high¬ 
est spirits on the mountain top. The 
crop was just about to be harvested and 
he had made arrangement for the sale of 
it. He had a splendid high wire fence 
around it and no one would have guessed 
the crop. The thought of having his 
crop stolen haunted him day and night 
and in a moment of ill-considered action 
one afternoon he hung out a big lettered 
sign on the fence: “Ginseng Farm, Keep 
Out!” 
Do you know, the next morning the 
ginseng was all gone—dug in the night! 
So much for advertising. That adver¬ 
tising ruined my friend’s venture in 
farming at that time. He had to sell 
the farm, improvements and all but he 
finally came back and made good and has 
decided views about advertising sign¬ 
boards. S. R. HOWARD, V. 8. 
Ohio. 
It. N.-Y.—We can well believe it. Re¬ 
minds us of the story of the man who 
talked to the school boys. He congratu¬ 
lated them on their fine behavioi\ At a 
school he had just visited he found many 
boys out on the roof of the shed. That 
was dangerous and did not look right. 
He was very glad that all the boys at 
this school were little gentlemen. The 
next day all the boys were out on that 
shed! They had not thought of it until 
this man sold them the idea! 
Value of the Interesting 
Letter 
Some weeks ago you discussed the art 
of letter writing, with especial reference 
to experiment stations. I would criti¬ 
cize it constructively in but one particu¬ 
lar. You state, “We think some Experi¬ 
ment Stations might easily improve the 
quality of their correspondence, that is 
if they desire to gain a popular follow¬ 
ing.” 
Your entire article hits the bullseye 
with the exception of the word, “easily.” 
It is true that experiment stations might 
change their style of answers to farmers, 
especially, but could they do this easily? 
The writer has received many letters 
from different experiment stations, and 
found them tolerably well written, on 
some subject with which he was en¬ 
tirely familiar. I am free to confess 
that these letters might not suit a farm¬ 
er. In fact, I have been called on at 
times to act as interpreter of letters 
from scientists to farmers. 
A farmer asked to have a weed identi¬ 
fied, and informed the station that a 
negro had said the weed was poisonous, 
because a cow of his died after eating 
some of it. The station unlimbered its 
learning thus ponderously : 
“Your communication bearing date of 
- has been referred to me as botan¬ 
ist. by the director, for answer. Your 
specimen was received in bad condition 
for examination and as it is not in a 
fructifying condition, identification was 
not authoritatively established, beyond a 
doubt. 
“The specimen appears to be Eupator- 
ium Capillifolium, a rather anomalous 
species, to a botanist in many respects. 
While this is related to the Eupatorium 
perfoliatum, a well-known and valued 
member of the materia medica. it is not 
believed, that it is especially dangerous 
to stock; nor is it thought that they 
would eat thereof, unless in danger of 
starvation. It does not appear that this 
weed would be especially dangerous in 
a pasture and it seems evident that the 
cow in question might have died from 
some other cause, as animals instinctively 
avoid poisonous articles of diet, or else 
eat them in such small amounts as to 
cause no disomfort.” 
The farmer got nothing from the letter 
except dissatisfied confusion, and brought 
the weed and letter to me as interpreter. 
Now why would not some letter sounding 
like this have answered the question 
just as well? 
“We have carefully examined the weed 
specimen, but as it'arrived badly dried 
and powdered we are not certain as to 
the kind of weed. If you can get a sam¬ 
ple either in blossom, or with fruit, or 
both, and send it in a damp paper in a 
box, we will be pleased to give you more 
information. 
“The weed seems to be a half brother 
to the old-fashioned boneset, that our 
mothers kept handy to give us a good 
sweat, and it hardly seems as if a cow 
could eat enough to be dangerously sick 
from any amount she would ordinarily 
get hold of. 
“A safe guess is that the negro’s cow 
died from some other cause. Of course 
she may have eaten some of the weed 
before death, and died from other causes. 
In any case, this matter will bear look¬ 
ing into further, and we will expect a 
well-wrapped box of samples, from which 
we can give exact facts.” 
There are objections to be raised to 
the writer’s substitute letter. It can 
easily be condensed to one-third the 
length, or even five line or less, but then 
it would be an example of curtness, and 
would not give proper consideration to 
a farmer. Stations are paid to take time 
to answer letters, and they should en¬ 
deavor to give them a friendly interested 
tone, in addition to a knowledge of hu¬ 
man nature and a desire to please. 
It is not necessary to talk down to 
a child, or to a farmer; neither is it nec¬ 
essary to be teacherish, or big-worded. 
Rather if one has a peak load of educa¬ 
tion, it should shine out in simple sen¬ 
tences of easy construction. 
The stations are not by any means the 
only source of unsatisfactory corre¬ 
spondence. The Government a Washing¬ 
ton will come in for its share of criticism 
in this respect, for many of their letters 
are dehydrated to a startling degree, 
very formal and tersfi. At one time the 
Post Office Department asked its employes 
to confine letters to less than 150 words 
in length. Will H. Hayes did a master 
stroke of humanizing the department dur¬ 
ing his short session. 
Several years ago a “Committee of Effi¬ 
ciency,” started out to save a few cents 
a year in typewriter ribbons and ink and 
maybe time too. They solemnly declared 
that the greeting and complimentary 
close of all official letters should be 
omitted, so for a time a few sent out 
letters minus the “Dear Sir,” or Very 
truly yours,” and were guilty of chilling 
outrages that ought to have seen the 
furnace. After a time, everyone fell 
back into the old-fashioned manner of 
writing as if they were addresing a hu¬ 
man being. 
Forsooth, they knew not, and knew not 
that they knew not, when they cut off 
the “Dear Sirs.” 
The R. N.-Y. is right as usual; the 
world is 50 years behind on its letter¬ 
writing. The value of personal letters is 
known. Machines are invented that will 
print through a typewriter ribbon, after 
which the name and close may be inserted 
with a machine of the same color of rib¬ 
bon. a very close imitation. Again it is 
reported that a typewriter company has 
arranged an electrical connection so that 
a master typewriter is handled by an 
operator, and electrical connection may 
be made with any number of controlled 
machines; and a single operator thus^ 
write a score of letters on as many differ¬ 
ent machines in the time almost, that it 
takes to write one. 
Yes, the value of the personal letter 
was never greater. Why secure expensive 
stationery, office equipment and a stenog¬ 
rapher and maybe use a dictaphone, in 
order to get out say 70 to 100 letters 
daily, which is the extreme of a typist’s 
efforts, and then omit the personal touch, 
or a sense of appreciation, or gratitude, 
or some phrase of the home, or personal 
reference; these, all these, and more too 
are common points of contact with the 
world. They touch peasant and prince, 
plowman and potentate alike. 
The R. N.-Y. is right; there is plenty 
of room for a correspondence humanizer 
in nearly all great institutions. The 
saddest thing of all is that the field has 
been almost entirely neglected, h. c. s. 
In the Bell System laboratories speech sounds are recorded 
on the oscillograph With a view to their subsequent analysis. 
The service of knowledl^e 
The youthful Alexander Graham Bell, in 1875, was 
explaining one of his experiments to the American scientist, 
Joseph Henry. He expressed the belief that he did not 
have the necessary electrical knowledge to develop it. 
Get it,” was the laconic advice. 
During this search for knowledge came the discovery 
that was to be of such incalculable value to mankind. 
The search for knowledge in whatever field it might lie 
has made possible America’s supremacy in the art of the 
telephone. 
Many times, in making a national telephone service a 
reality, this centralized search for knowledge has overcome 
engineering difficulties and removed scientific limitations 
that threatened to hamper the development of speech trans¬ 
mission. It is still making available for all the Bell com¬ 
panies inventions and improvements in every type of tele¬ 
phone mechanism. 
This service of the parent company to its associates, as 
well as the advice and assistance given in operating, finan¬ 
cial and legal matters, enables each company in the Bell 
System to render a telephone service infinitely cheaper 
and better than it could as an unrelated local unit. 
This service of the parent company has saved hundreds 
of millions of dollars in first cost of Bell System telephone 
plant and tens of millions in annual operating expense— 
of which the public is enjoying the benefits. 
American Telephone and Telegraph Company 1 
And associated Companies 
BELL SYSTEM 
One Policy , One System , Universal Service 
Usol Skeeto Skare 
For the dairyman — Flies and mosquitos 
will not pester you during milking if you 
apply a few drops to hands, neck and face. 
Harmless. Pleasant odor. 
Sold in two-ounce bottles. 
If your dealer canru 
Standard Tar Products Co., Foot < 
Usol Fly Spray 
The wonder spray —keeps cows and 
horses contented from sunrise to sunset. 
Will not blister, gum up or discolor the hair. 
Sweet and pleasant odor. Sold in 55, 35, 5-gal- 
lon drums and 1 gallon cans. 
supply you, zvrite us 
Chestnut Street, Milwaukee, WIs. 
Saws Wood Fast 
(Docs the Work of 10 Men-1 /20 Cost) 
This WITTE Log Saw uses Kerosene or Gasoline 
and will cut from 10 to 25 cords of wood a day. 
Easy to operate and move. New device makes 
easy starting in any temperature. Trouble-proof. 
Fells trees and saws them into blocks—runs other 
farm machinery. Fast money maker and big labor 
saver. Only small amount down. 
» _Write today for my new Free 
^ mmm Book and Low Easy Payment 
Prices. No obligation. 
WITTE ENGINE WORKS, 
6896 Witte Bldg., Kansas City, Mo. 
6896 Empire Bldg., Pittsburgh. Pa. 
WEED KILLER 
For walks, gutters, tennis courts 
1 gallon 5 gallons 1 drum 
$2.00 $8.00 $50.00 
Dilute with water 40-1 
ANDREW WILSON, Inc., Springfield, N. J. 
ROOT BORERS 
Peach, Prune St Apricot; also Pear & 
Apple Aphis and Grape Phyllox¬ 
era. Killed with PARAFIX, (Pure 
Paradtchlorbenzene recommended 
by U. S. Gov. & State Exp. Sta.) 
Full instructions, results guaran¬ 
teed or money back. Booklet FREE. 
Treat 10 trees $1—60 trees $3. Post¬ 
paid or C. O. D. The Parafix Co., 
Grand Central P.O.Box 273, N Y.C, 
Dependa ble- Power fu I 
E B TRACTOR 
AT 
NEW 
LOW 
PRICE 
DEFORE you invest in any 
tractor, you want to know 
all about the different makes. 
For _ your information we 
nave issued attractive book¬ 
lets which fully describe the 
E-B 12-20 Kerosene Tractor 
I —generally admitted to be 
the most dependable and most 
economical tractor for all- 
around work. Its 12 H.P. at 
| the drawbar and 20 H.P. at 
| the belt are ample for every 
farm operation. 
1 he E-B Tractor has always 
been an outstanding value, 
but at the new low price is 
without question the greatest 
buy in the whole tractor field. 
Get all the facts. Write to¬ 
day for free booklets and price 
and make your own com¬ 
parison. No obliga- 
tion whatever. 
Emerson-Br ant ingham 
Implement Co. 
( INCORPORATED) 
Business Founded 1852 
Harrisburg „ 
FILL ou r 
AND MAIL 
COUPON 
Address.. 
^ Without 
^ obligation 
send me new low 
price and free book¬ 
let describing E-B 12-20 
Tractor. 
