292 
February  24,  1923 
The  Rural  New-Yorker 
THE  BUSINESS  FARMER’S  PAPER 
A  National  Weekly  Journal  for  Country  and  Suburban  Homtl 
Established  tsso 
Psbllibed  weekly  by  the  Rnr*l  Publishing  Company,  333  West  SOtb  Street,  Sew  Pork 
Herbert  W.  Collingwood.  President  and  Editor. 
John  J.  Dillon,  Treasurer  and  General  Manager. 
Wm.  F.  Dillon,  Secretary.  Mrs.  E.  T.  Royle,  Associate  Editor. 
L.  H.  Murphy,  Circulation  Manager. 
SUBSCRIPTION  :  ONE  DOLLAR  A  YEAR 
To  foreign  countries  in  the  Universal  Postal  Union,  $2.04.  Remit  in  money 
order,  express  order,  personal  check  or  bank  draft. 
Entered  at  New  York  Post  Office  as  Second  Class  Matter. 
Advertising  rates,  $1.00  per  agate  line — 7  words.  References  required  for 
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  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  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  honest  bankrupts  sanctioned  by  the  courts. 
Notice  of  the  complaint  must  be  sent  to  us  within  one  month  of  the  time  of 
the  transaction  and  to  identify  it,  you  should  mention  The  Rural  New- 
Yorker  when  writing  the  advertiser. 
A  GROUP  of  what  are  called  “equal  rights”  bills 
have  been  introduced  at  Albany.  They  have 
to  do  with  relations  between  husband  and  wife,  and 
parent  and  child.  In  general,  the  object  is  to  equal¬ 
ize  the  business  relations  between  men  and  women. 
One  bill  provides  that  a  woman  may  demand  wages 
from  her  husband  for  services  performed  in  the 
home.  A  married  woman  is  to  own  her  own  labor, 
the  same  as  a  man.  Husband  and  wife  are  to  be 
made  equally  liable  for  the  support  of  each  other, 
and  they  may  contract  with  each  other  the  same  as 
with  a  third  party,  or  they  may  sue  each  other,  or  a 
married  woman  may  sue  or  he  sued  as  if  she  were 
single.  Another  bill  seeks  to  change  the  present 
difference  between  a  wife’s  dower  rights  and  the 
husband’s  “tenancy  by  courtesy.”  At  present  a  hus¬ 
band  cannot  will  all  his  property  away  from  his 
wife ;  she  can  always  claim  her  “dower  rights” ;  on 
the  other  hand  a  wife  may  will  all  her  property 
away  from  her  husband.  In  any  event,  the  widow¬ 
er’s  right  to  a  share  of  his  wife’s  property  is  not  as 
secure  as  the  widow’s  right  to  his  possessions.  A 
new  law  would  change  that  by  abolishing  the  cour¬ 
tesy  provision  entirely  and  making  the  usual  widow’s 
“dower  right”  apply  to  both  husband  and  wife.  Do 
not  understand  that  these  bills  have  already  become 
law.  They  have  not,  and  it  is  not  very  likely  that 
they  will  all  pass  this  year.  They  iudicate  what  is 
coming,  however,  and  they  are  being  pressed  by 
many  organizations  of  women. 
* 
HE  New  York  State  Grange  went  on  record  as 
opposed  to  any  consolidated  school  law.  For 
some  reason  they  failed  to  take  action  on  the  sug¬ 
gestions  made  by  the  Committee  of  Twenty-one. 
Probably  the  reason  for  that  was  that  they  do  not 
feel  that  the  report  is  fully  understood  by  country 
people.  We  share  that  view,  and  we  think  it  suffi¬ 
cient  reason  for  opposing  any  radical  change  in  the 
school  law  this  Winter.  Our  country  people  are  not 
yet  ready  for  the  issue,  and  we  know  that  if  a  law 
is  pushed  upon  them  through  the  power  of  New  York 
City  the  reaction  from  it  will  be  worse  than 
that  which  followed  the  township  school  law.  In 
saying  this  we  are  not  criticizing  the  Committee  of 
Twenty-one  or  finding  fault  with  their  suggestions. 
We  have  great  respect  for  that  committee,  and  be¬ 
lieve  that  most,  of  the  members  want  to  do  the  best 
thing  they  can  for  rural  children.  We  are  simply 
stating  a  plain,  cold  fact,  when  we  say  that  our 
country  people  are  not  ready  for  the  proposed  change 
this  year.  If  it  is  forced  upon  them  by  people  who 
know  nothing  of  rural  conditions,  there  will  be  a  re¬ 
bellion  that  will  shake  Albany  worse  than  the  upris¬ 
ing  over  the  township  law. 
* 
T  looks  as  if  there  might  be  danger  of  improper 
use  of  the  radiophone  for  advertising  purposes. 
A  reader  says  that  one  night  recently  there  came  a 
talk  about  some  investment  company — a  “boom”  for 
buying  its  stock  or  placing  money  with  it.  There 
are  many  people  who  seem  to  believe  everything  that 
comes  to  them  out  of  the  air.  There  is  something 
mysterious  about  it  which  appears  to  carry  some¬ 
thing  like  a  certificate  of  truth.  We  can  readily  see 
how  some  plausible  promoter  might  put  a  fine  sam¬ 
ple  of  “hot  air”  out  into  the  atmosphere  that  would 
carry  a  bunch  of  buncombe  well  wrapped  in  a  man¬ 
tle  of  conviction.  Many  would  believe  such  a  story 
who  would  not  listen  for  a  moment  if  the  promoter 
were  to  sit  right  down  beside  them  and  talk.  There 
is  a  chance  for  someone  to  work  a  dangerous  game 
in  this.  A  man  who  would  not  he  permitted  to  ad¬ 
vertise  in  reputable  papers,  or  who  might  be  denied 
the  mail  service,  might  be  able  to  send  some  plausi¬ 
ble  story  into  the  air.  We  must  all  be  on  the  watch 
The  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
for  such  schemes.  An  old  scriptural  adage  is  ap¬ 
propriate  here:  “ Take  heed  how  ye  hear!" 
* 
E  usually  have  many  letters  from  people  who 
•brag  about  their  hens.  These  people  watch 
the  figures  at  the  egg-laying  contests  and  find  that 
their  own  birds  are  very  much  superior.  They  “lay 
rings  around”  any  of  these  contest  birds,  if  we  may 
believe  the  owners’  statements.  These  gentlemen 
ought  to  come  right  up  to  the  front  with  a  pen  of 
birds  and  show  the  world  how  to  do  it.  Get  these 
hens  away  from  home  with  the  same  feed  and  care 
that  others  receive,  and  they  might  or  they  might 
not  do  such  wonderful  things.  We  have  seen  chil¬ 
dren  who  are  marvels  at  home.  When  they  got  to 
college  or  out  into  business  they  were  to  pour  oil  on 
the  world  and  then  touch  a  match  to  it.  But  some¬ 
how  must  of  the  oil  turned  out  to  be  ordinary 
water.  Something  was  the  matter  with  the  match. 
We  think  that  some  of  these  wonderful  home  layers 
would  prove  to  be  liars  if  they  once  got  out  into  the 
cold  light  of  an  official  egg  contest. 
* 
ANY  farmers  in  South  Jersey  are  hunting  for 
new  farm  crops.  There  is  no  doubt  about  it. 
Fruit  and  vegetables  have  paid  fairly  well  in  the 
past,  but  there  is  increased  competition  from  sec¬ 
tions  lower  down  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  develop¬ 
ment  of  transportation  has  brought  millions  of  acres 
into  competition  with  New  Jersey,  and  it  is  evident 
that  as  the  State  is  developed  there  must  be  new 
products.  Some  farmers  are  considering  tobacco  as 
a  crop,  but  we  hope  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  intro¬ 
duce  it.  Cotton  is  possible  in  the  lower  counties. 
Of  course  we  know  the  authorities  say  that  cotton 
growing,  so  far  north,  is  not  practical.  Yet  we 
think  it  well  worth  trying.  South  Jersey  would 
produce  great  crops  of  sorghum,  which  could  be  used 
for  producing  high-grade  syrup.  We  are  told  that  it 
is  difficult  to  crystallize  sugar  from  sorghum  eco¬ 
nomically,  but  there  is  no  question  about  syrup  pro¬ 
duction.  and  we  think  it  would  be  possible  to  com¬ 
pete  with  the  present  low-grade  syrups.  At  any  rate 
the  time  is  approaching  when  new  standard  crops 
will  be  needed  for  this  section — and  they  must  he 
found. 
* 
IIOULD  the  driver  of  a  car  on  an  unknown  road 
stop  and  take  up  strangers — give  them  a  ride? 
That  question  is  troubling  some  of  our  readers.  We 
think  the  average  man  is  likely  to  “have  a  heart” 
and  is  inclined  to  give  the  wayfarer  a  lift.  In  some 
eases  drivers  have  “entertained  an  angel  unawares” 
through  picking  up  some  weary  walker.  On  the 
other  hand,  a  neighbor  of  ours  stopped  one  evening 
and  took  in  a  stranger  who  asked  for  a  ride.  Com¬ 
ing  to  a  lonely  place,  this  stranger  turned  suddenly 
upon  the  driver,  struck  him  over  the  head,  robbed 
him  and  left  him  for  dead.  There  is  one  man,  at 
least,  who  will  never  take  up  any  more  strangers. 
Of  course  no  woman  driving  alone  should  ever  do  it. 
With  a  man  it  comes  to  be  a  matter  of  personality. 
You  must  know  how  to  size  up  your  man  or  go  right 
ahead. 
* 
HERE  has  been  a  great  struggle  in  Congress 
over  the  ship  subsidy  hill.  It  passed  the  House, 
but  has  been  tied  up  in  the  Senate.  President  Hard¬ 
ing  has  demanded  a  vote  on  it,  but  both  sides  have 
been  a  little  afraid  to  put  it  to  the  test.  We  think 
there  would  be  a  small  majority  favoring  it,  but  the 
“farm  bloc”  has  been  determined  to  get  through  their 
farm  legislation  first  of  all.  We  fear  that  as  a  result 
of  all  this  maneuvering  the  truth-in-fabries  bill  will 
fail  at  this  session.  This  is  a  bill  which  compels 
manufacturers  and  dealers  to  state  openly  and 
clearly  just  how  much  virgin  wool  the  cloth  which 
they  sell  as  garments  contains.  The  effect  of  that 
would  be  to  separate  the  shoddy  goods  from  “all 
wool”  cloth  just  about  as  butter  and  oleo  are  now 
separated.  Feople  could  buy  shoddy  if  they  cared  to 
do  so,  but  they  would  know  just  what  they  were 
buying,  and  would  pay  less  for  the  goods.  It  is  now 
practically  impossible  to  buy  cloth  of  full  virgin  wool 
except  at  an  extortionate  price.  A  truth-in-fabries 
law  would  protect  all  who-  buy  clothing,  and  also 
help  sheep  men  by  creating  a  standard  definite  value 
for  wool.  We  consider  this  bill  far  more  desirable 
and  necessary  than  some  of  the  others  which  the 
“farm  bloc”  is  presssing.  It  ought  to  be  put  through 
at  once. 
* 
1  have  been  carefully  reading  D.  L.  Hartman’s  reply 
to  the  Hope  Farm  man  on  “A  Night  on  the  Market.’ 
It  certainly  speaks  well  for  the  fairness  and  good  sport¬ 
ing  spirit  of  The  R.  N.-Y.  to  publish  Mr.  Hartman  s 
articles  and  stand  for  such  a  trimming  as  the  latter  is 
administering,  even  though  it  is  all  in  good  part.  Such 
fairness  cannot  help  but  lead  to  a  clear  logical  view 
of  the  whole  vexed  marketing  problem.  s.  n.  F. 
HE  R.  N.-Y.  will  stand  up  and  take  its  “trim¬ 
ming”  with  a  smile  whenever  such  action  is 
deserved  or  necessary.  A  tree  is  always  better  for 
fair  trimming.  It  will  produce  more  and  better 
fruit,  and  make  finer  growth.  Whether  Hartman 
did  a  good  job  of  “trimming”  or  not  we  shall  leave 
our  readers  to  decide.  There  is  a  good  discussion 
of  it  this  week.  It  is  clearly  evident  that  some  men 
are  natural  salesmen  and  have  a  fine  judgment  for 
producing  high-class  goods.  When  they  live  close  to 
a  good  market  it  is  quite  evident  that  they  will  do 
better  to  “go  it  alone.”  Our  friend  Hartman  is  such 
a  man,  and  he  has  such  a  market.  Therefore  he  is 
justified  in  arguiug  for  “individualism”  so  far  as  his 
own  success  is  concerned.  Where  Hartman  goes 
wrong  in  his  logic  is  in  seeming  to  assume  that  all 
farmers  are  equally  capable  and  equally  well  situ¬ 
ated.  The  truth  is  that  only  a  small  proportion  of 
American  farmers  possess  the  qualities  which  will 
make  them  succeed  as  “individualists.”  Many  of 
them  may  feel  that  they  do  possess  these  needed 
qualities,  but  the  cold  truth  is  that  they  would  be 
far  better  off  if  they  eoukl  work  harmoniously  to¬ 
gether.  We  do  not  attempt  to  discuss  the  question 
of  any  moral  obligation  which  the  naturally  success¬ 
ful  man  owes  to  his  fellows. 
* 
HERE  are  many  reports  from  the  Middle  West 
about  what  we  call  a  wrong  system  of  invest¬ 
ments.  In  spite  of  all  the  talk  about  hard  times, 
there  are  a  good  many  country  people  who  have 
money  to  invest.  Taken  individually,  these  sums 
of  money  might  seem  small,  but  if  combined  the 
amount  for  any  agricultural  county  would  be  large. 
Now  much  of  this  money  is  going  to  investment 
companies  in  the  larger  cities.  Agents  travel  through 
the  country  and  pick  this  money  up.  The  agents 
get  a  percentage  on  what  they  secure,  and  the  ex¬ 
penses  of  the  investment  company  are  heavy.  The 
farmer  is  supposed  to  get  a  fair  interest  on  his 
money,  but  the  security  is  not  solid.  The  final  bor¬ 
rower  must  pay  a  great  price  for  the  money  in 
interest  and  “charges.”  There  are  in  most  cases 
nearly  as  many  middlemen  between  tlie  farmer  and 
the  final  borrower  as  there  are  between  producer 
and  consumer  on  the  35-eent  dollar.  And  while  this 
money  is  being  drained  away  from  the  country,  right 
in  the  township  from  which  this  money  comes  are 
good  farmers  who  are  in  desperate  need  of  capital. 
Some  of  them  will  lose  their  farms  or  their  stock 
unless  they  can  obtain  a  loan.  In  some  cases,  if 
they  succeed  in  obtaining  money  on  hard  and  galling 
terms,  they  will  handle  the  same  dollar  which  their 
neighbor,  right  over  the  line  fence,  sent  through  the 
expensive  and  roundabout  way  of  the  investment 
company.  Now  this  is  no  fairy  tale,  but  an  actual 
record  of  what  is  being  done  in  many  cases.  Right 
in  the  home  town  are  plenty  of  chances  for  safe 
farm  investment,  and  right  in  the  home  county,  if 
the  assets  and  credits  of  country  people  could  be 
combined,  there  would  be  provided  ample  capital  for 
every  legitimate  country  enterprise.  There  would  be 
no  need  of  asking  the  government  to  provide  credit 
loans  if  all  farmers  would  do  it  themselves,  com¬ 
bine  their  own  cash  and  credit  through  some  safe 
banking  system,  and  lend  the  money  at  home.  Fifty 
years  ago  New  England  lost  much  of  her  power  as 
an  agricultural  section  by  much  the  same  system 
we  have  here  described.  Money  made  on  the  farms 
was  taken  out  of  the  section  and  sent  hundreds  of 
miles  away  to  develop  farm  land  which  later  came 
into  competition  with  the  home  farms.  It  was 
quite  natural  for  a  boy  to  chase  father’s  dollar  away 
from  the  farm ! 
Brevities 
No  man  likes  to  work  for  a  poor  feeder. 
Better  put  your  nest  egg  in  a  trap-nest. 
Working  hours  were  made  for  work.  They  belong 
to  the  boss. 
Apple  varieties  for  wet  land?  Well,  ir  is  no  location 
for  an  orchard,  but  Northern  Spy  will  do  about  as  well 
as  any. 
The  man  who  works  from  nine  to  four  thinks  farming 
must  be  fine,  but  try  the  job.  You’ll  fiud  you  have  re¬ 
versed  from  four  to  nine. 
One  of  our  readers  says  he  has  reason  to  think  the 
recipes  in  The  R.  N.-Y.  are  good,  since  “my  wife  has 
tried  some  of  them  on  me.” 
He’s  sympathetic  just  before  election ; 
You’d  think  he  kept  you  always  in  his  mind, 
But  when  he  gets  the  job,  then  comes  dejection ; 
You  find  he’s  simply  got  an  ax  to  grind. 
Several  readers  write  that  they  have  sold  goods  to  or 
made  contracts  with  boys  under  21  years.  Can  they 
collect?  A  person  under  21  years  can  disapprove  his 
contract  at  any  time  before  he  arrives  at  his  majority  or 
immediately  after.  It  would  be  a  bad  thing  for  his 
character  to  do  it,  but,  legally,  he  could. 
