692 
•Pe  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
May  5,  192:j 
The  Rural  New-Yorker 
THE  BUSINESS  FARMER'S  PAPER 
A  National  Weekly  Journal  for  Country  and  Suburban  Home* * 
Established  tsso 
PubMkbcd  weekly  by  the  Rural  Publishing  Company,  838  W  est  30th  Street,  New  fork 
Herbert  W.  collisgwood,  President  and  Editor. 
John  J.  Dillon,  Treasurer  and  General  Manager. 
Wm.  f.  Dillo.v,  Secretary.  Mrs.  E.  T.  Royle,  Associate  Editor. 
L.  H.  MURPHY,  Circulation  Manager.  _ 
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“  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 
transaction!!.  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  r,  hen  writing  the  advertiser. 
I  notice  that  you  often  advise  seeding  Alsike  clover. 
Why  is  that?  We  have  always  been  taught  that  Red 
clover  is  ahead  of  any  other  member  of  the  family. 
E.  W.  F. 
OU  have  been  properly  taught — when  the  soil 
conditions  are  right.  At  its  best  Red  clover 
is  a  wonderful  crop.  We  know  farmers  who 
grow  it  so  well  that  it  seems  really  superior  to 
Alfalfa.  The  late  Edward  J.  Dillon  grew  crops  of 
Red  clover  that  were  a  joy  to  behold.  Yet  there  are 
many  farmers  on  thin,  wet  or  acid  soil  who  will  find 
Alsike  superior.  This  variety  of  clover  is  hardier  than 
Red.  On  our  own  soil  Red  clover  frequently  fails, 
while  Alsike,  seeded  on  the  same  laud,  will  give  a 
bountiful  crop.  It  can  stand  “wet  feet,’’  and  will 
start  and  grow  on  soil  that  would  he  called  acid.  The 
Alsike  will  usually  respond  to  lime,  but  it  will  start 
and  make  a  fair  growth  where  Red  clover  or  Alfalfa 
would  hardly  start.  The  seed  is  small,  and  less  of 
it  is  required  to  seed  an  acre.  The  stems  are  slen¬ 
der,  and  thus  it  makes  a  finer  hay,  but  it  is  more 
likely  to  fall  down  and  “lodge”  than  Red  clover.  It 
is  called  a  “little  clover,”  but  on  good  soil  we  have 
grown  as  large  a  crop  as  with  the  best  Red.  We 
think  it  pays  to  mix  a  little  Alsike  seed  in  with  the 
Red.  There  never  was  a  field  with  absolutely  uni¬ 
form  soil.  There  will  be  sour  or  damp  patches  here 
and  there  and,  on  these,  the  Alsike  will  thrive  and 
add  quite  a  little  to  the  total  yield.  There  are  many 
thin  or  sour  and  wet  soils  on  which  farmers  are 
vainly  trying  to  grow  Alfalfa  without  lime  or  full 
drainage.  They  would  be  better  off  to  drop  Alfalfa 
and  seed  to  Alsike. 
Specimens  of  a  wild  breed  of  fowls  originating  in  the 
southern  part  of  Patagonia  called  “Araueana  fowls” 
are  undergoing  experimental  treatment  at  the  Buenos 
Aires  Zoological  Gardens  in  order  that  a- definite  type 
may  be  cultivated.  Reports  reaching  the  Department 
of  Commerce  from  Consul  W.  Henry  Robertson,  at 
Buenos  Aires,  indicate  the  bird  has  all  white  meat  and 
is  believed  to  be  a  good  layer,  giving  eggs  of  a  light  blue 
color. 
HAT  is  the  report  sent  out  from  Washington. 
White  meat  and  blue  eggs  and  a  red  comb  ought 
to  make  a  Star  Spangled  Banner  bird.  Why  doesn’t 
some  poultry  Burbank  domesticate  the  robin?  In¬ 
crease  its  size  somewhat  and  build  up  its  egg  yield 
and  you  ought  to  transform  this  fruit  robber  into  a 
useful  farm  citizen,  a  good  bantam  companion  for 
the  milk  goat  in  a  backyard.  We  think  it  will  be  a 
long  time  before  we  have  a  pen  of  these  “Araucanas” 
at  an  egg-laying  contest! 
* 
Ossining,  April  8. — Not  one  professional  man  was 
listed  among  the  1,457  new  prisoners  committed  to  Sing 
Sing  Prison  during  15)22,  the  annual  report  of  Dr.  Amos 
C.  Squire,  head  physician,  showed  today.  Laborers  head 
the  list  of  new  inmates  with  190,  while  chauffeurs  were 
second  with  103. 
Next  on  the  list  were  79  clerks,  50  tailors,  4S  sales¬ 
men.  45  cooks,  43  waiters,  30  firemen,  35  electricians,  33 
longshoremen,  32  painters,  31  automobile  mechanics.  27 
machinists,  24  plumbers,  21  barbers,  20  bookkeepers  and 
15)  musicians.  Three  policemen,  two  glassblowers,  two 
undertakers,  one  acrobat  and  one  actor  were  also  among 
those  committed. 
NE  of  our  readers  sends  us  that  to  point  out  the 
fact  that  there  was  no  farmer  among  these 
prisoners.  “While  farmers  may  find  it  hard  to  keep 
out  of  debt,  they  evidently  keep  out  of  jail.”  This 
man  wants  to  know  why  there  are  so  many  chauf¬ 
feurs  in  the  list.  Most  of  them  are  jailed  for  reck¬ 
less  driving,  and  their  prison  term  is  usually  the 
outcome  of  a  “joy  ride”  which  led  to  gloom.  It 
affects  a  man’s  character  to  feel  that  he  has  under 
the  control  of  his  finger  the  power  of  a  strong  engine 
which  may  be  dashed  ahead  to  destruction  or  held 
trembling  with  eagerness  to  proceed.  Some  men 
grow  more  responsible  with  the  realization  of  this 
power.  It  sobers  them  and  makes  them  more  careful. 
Others  grow  reckless  or  “drunk  with  power.”  and 
take  chances  on  the  road.  The  chauffeurs  who  end 
up  in  the  State’s  prison  are  of  that  class.  Farmers 
sometimes  go  to  the  poorhouse,  but  they  do  not  often 
gc  to  jail. 
* 
NE  of  the  most  interesting  of  modern  books  is 
the  new  life  of  P.  T.  Barnum.  The  ‘Trince  of 
Humbugs,”  as  he  called  himself,  was  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  characters  that  America  has  jet  pro¬ 
duced.  In  this  book  we  are  told  of  a  Connecticut 
woman  who  greatly  distinguished  herself  and  taught 
the  world  a  lesson.  Barnum’s  great  menagerie 
burned  to  the  ground,  and  most  of  the  wild  animals 
perished  in  the  flames.  One  fierce  lion  escaped  and 
ran  off  in  the  night.  He  came  to  a  farm,  and  being 
hungry,  went  into  the  barn  and  killed  a  sheep.  Then 
he  began  to  gorge  himself  on  the  meat.  The  woman 
of  the  farm,  hearing  the  noise,  went  out  with  her 
broom  and  saw  this  animal  tearing  the  sheep.  She 
thought  it  was  a  big  dog  and  proceeded  to  beat  tlie 
enemy  with  her  broom.  Intent  on  his  meal,  the  lion 
paid  no  attention  to  the  broom.  In  a  short  time  the 
lion’s  keepers  appeared  and  recaptured  him,  and 
when  the  woman  learned  what  kind  of  a  dog  she 
had  been  “brooming”  she  fainted !  That  broom  was 
ar.  effective  weapon  against  stray  clogs,  her  children, 
or  even  her  husband.  Broom  in  hand,  she  had  what 
is  known  as  the  “psychological  drop”  on  that  lion  so 
long  as  she  thought  it  was  a  dog.  Her  courage  dis¬ 
appeared  before  fear.  Most  of  us  are  like  that,  only 
our  lions  are  generally  stuffed — no  more  dangerous 
than  scarecrows.  If  we  could  retain  our  courage  and 
keep  on  our  broom  work  we  could  easily  put  them 
out 
* 
HE  State  Senate  at  Albany  passed  the  new 
school  bill  by  a  large  majority.  This  was  gener¬ 
ally  expected.  As  the  week  ends  it  is  impossible  to 
tell  just  what  the  State  Assembly  will  do  with  the 
bill.  Both  sides  are  determined  to  have  their  way, 
and  there  is  always  a  rush  of  business  at  the  end  of 
the  session.  Even  old-time  politicians  long  familiar 
with  legislation  hesitate  to  predict  the  result. 
* 
EARLY  300  years  ago  tobacco  was  the  chief 
money  crop  of  America.  It  not  only  brought 
cash  when  sold  in  England,  but  was  the  medium  of 
exchange  in  this  country,  the  pound  of  tobacco  be¬ 
ing  about  as  nearly  the  standard  of  value  as  the 
dollar  is  today.  It  is  remarkable  how  the  first 
prosperity  in  America  was  based  upon  the  satisfac¬ 
tion  of  a  vice,  or  at  best  a  luxurious  habit.  In  Vir¬ 
ginia  tobacco  raising  and  in  New  England  the  manu¬ 
facture  of  rum  kept  the  colonies  alive  and  enabled 
them  to  grow.  In  the  early  days  all  sorts  of  schemes 
were  resorted  to  in  order  to  restrict  the  production 
of  tobacco.  Distribution  in  England  and  Europe 
was  in  the  hands  of  middlemen  who  were  not  greatly 
interested  in  increasing  consumption,  for  when  too 
much  tobacco  was  produced  of  course  these  middle¬ 
men  could  buy  it  at  a  lower  price  and  still  sell  at  a 
high  price.  The  situation  has  not  changed  greatly 
i’1  300  years,  for  the  middlemen  who  now  handle 
milk,  grain,  live  stock,  potatoes  or  other  produce,  all 
employ  just  the  same  tactics  in  buying  supplies 
whenever  unorganized  farmers  cannot  control  the 
price.  These  tobacco  growers  of  the  earlier  days 
tried  to  curtail  production  by  law.  They  passed  all 
sorts  of  laws.  Some  prohibited  the  growing  of  the 
crop;  others  demanded  its  destruction,  but  it  was 
never  possible  to  carry  them  out.  There  was  always 
a  large  element  among  the  growers  who  would  not 
submit  to  discipline.  They  always  grew  more  when 
they  thought  others  would  grow  less.  The  trouble 
was  finally  ended  by  increasing  consumption.  Hu¬ 
man  nature  has  remained  much  the  same  for  three 
centuries,  and  it  is  not  likely  to  change  in  tlie  future. 
Efforts  to  control  the  production  of  a  general  or  pop¬ 
ular  crop  by  law  or  through  ordinary  organization 
are  not  likely  to  produce  results.  The  best  outlook 
lies  in  an  increase  of  consumption,  and  this  must 
usually  be  developed  by  the  producers. 
* 
OT  long  ago  the  writer  of  this  celebrated  his 
birthday.  He  is  old  enough  to  understand  the 
significance  of  such  an  event.  The  children  baked 
a  cake  so  covered  with  candles  that  you  could  not 
have  crowded  much  more  on  the  cake.  And,  right 
in  time,  in  the  morning  mail  came  a  package  of 
cigarettes,  with  a  fine  birthday  letter  from  the  man¬ 
ufacturer.  We  had  no  use  for  the  cigarettes,  but 
the  idea  of  that  letter  was  worth  something.  This 
manufacturer  cared  nothing  for  us  personally.  He 
was  after  business.  He  looks  up  the  birthdays  of 
as  many  people  as  possible,  has  a  “form”  letter 
neatly  printed,  and  the  clerks  mail  a  copy  to  each 
party  on  their  list — with  the  cigarettes!  Then  a  few 
days  later  came  a  letter  from  a  florist,  reminding 
us  of  the  date  of  the  wedding  clay  and  adding: 
“If  you  say  it  with  flowers, 
Why  not  say  it  with  ours?” 
There  are  many  busy  people  who  in  the  struggle 
for  life  and  a  living  forget  what  should  be  the  hap¬ 
piest  day  of  their  lives.  On  remembering  it  they 
naturally  “say  it  with  flowers” — and  thus  increase 
the  trade.  The  florists  follow  the  plan  worked  out 
by  the  cigarette  man.  They  make  lists  of  wedding 
days  and  follow  them  up.  These  are  but  samples 
of  what  modern  advertisers  are  doing  to  keep  trade 
and  stir  up  new  business.  It  is  a  great  plan.  Per¬ 
haps  we  may  develop  it  in  selling  farm  product- 
direct,  and  thus  dodge  the  middleman. 
LAST  Fall  we  tried  to  start  an  experiment  in 
using  bacteria  in  the  silo.  Most  farmers  are 
now  quite  familiar  with  the  theory  and  process  of 
inoculation.  We  use  a  “starter”  in  the  cream  to  pre¬ 
pare  5t  for  churning.  This  may  be  some  of  the  but¬ 
termilk  from  a  previous  successful  churning,  or  the 
essential  bacteria  cultivated  in  the  laboratory  and 
prepared  for  use.  Many  of  us  know  that  by  using 
certain  “cultures”  on  the  seeds  of  clover,  Alfalfa  and 
other  legume  plants  we  can  increase  their  size  and 
quality.  We  are  also  beginning  to  obtain  good  re¬ 
sults  from  inoculated  sulphur — which  is  common 
powdered  sulphur  containing  the  germs  which  may 
produce  sulphuric  acid.  Thus  the  principle  or  the¬ 
ory  of  inoculation  as  applied  to  farm  practice  has 
been  established.  Now  comes  much  the  same  thing 
in  connection  with  the  silo.  We  know  that  by  han¬ 
dling  our  cream  properly,  and  by  adding  a  “starter,” 
we  may  take  a  finer  quality  of  butter  out  of  the 
churn.  Why  may  not  the  same  be  true  of  the  silo? 
We  have  all  seen  moldy  or  ill-smelling  stuff  come 
out  of  one  silo,  while  another  gives  a  fragrant,  pal¬ 
atable  feed  which  seems  quite  equal  to  pasture  grass. 
There  is  or  may  be  as  much  difference  between  two 
samples  of  silage  as  there  is  between  the  finest  but¬ 
ter  and  the  poor  grease  which  sometimes  comes  from 
a  churn.  The  difference  in  quality  is  really  due.  in 
both  cases,  to  much  the  same  thing.  In  the  better 
quality  the  superior  ferments  are  stronger  and  thus 
dominate  the  product.  In  the  poorer  quality  the 
molds  and  rotten  bacteria  have  the  advantage.  Now 
the  bacteria  which  produce  a  high-class  silage  have 
been  separated  and  cultivated.  They  can  be  put 
into  the  silo  just  as  the  superior  “starter”  is  put 
into  the  churn  with  the  cream,  and  the  theory  of 
this  is  well  understood.  Last  Fall  we  started  an 
experiment  with  10  farmers  in  using  this  silo  bac¬ 
teria.  These  men  had  quantities  of  dry  cornstalks 
from  which  the  ears  had  been  husked.  These  dry 
stalks  were  cut  into  the  silo,  moistened  with  water 
and  then  the  inoculant  was  added.  In  every  case 
thus  far  reported,  where  the  directions  were  fol¬ 
lowed,  these  dry  stalks  developed  into  a  fair  quality 
of  silage.  It  could  not,  of  course,  equal  the  greeu 
stalk  with  the  full  ear,  but  it  did  not  mold,  as  such 
corn  often  does,  and  was  at  least  50  per  cent  better 
feed  than  the  chopped  dry  stalks  alone.  The  result 
of  these  practical  experiences  has  convinced  us  that 
there  are  great  possibilities  in  this  plan.  We  think 
a  farmer  can  nearly  double  the  value  of  dry  corn¬ 
stalks  by  using  this  inoculant  and  that  he  can  make 
a  standard  quality  of  green  silage  in  this  way. 
Brevities 
And  now  a  woman  seems  to  have  entered  professional 
baseball.  She  is  said  to  earn  $300  a  week  playing  first 
base  for  a  New  England  club. 
A  Maine  reader  says  he  can  have  baked  apple  every 
day  in  the  year  with  three  varieties  and  a  good  storage. 
Red  Astrachan,  McIntosh  and  Northern  Spy — and  a 
hole  in  the  ground. 
Many  a  joke  has  been  made  about  the  codfish  of  New 
England,  but  in  all  seriousness  the  cod  has  bad  much 
to  do  with  American  prosperity.  Dried  cod  goes  to 
every  corner  of  the  earth. 
Thunder  and  lightning  do  not  sour  milk,  as  many 
suppose.  They  come  at  a  time  when  the  conditions  of 
the  air  are  best  for  the  bacteria  which  cause  milk  to 
sour.  That  seems  to  be  all  there  is  to  it. 
A  “rubbing-pole”  helps  cattle  clean  themselves.  It 
is  set  on  posts  so  cattle  can  reach  it  with  neck  and  back, 
and  covered  with  sacks  smeared  with  crude  oil.  The 
cattle  will  rub  their  necks  on  it  or  get  under  and  rub 
the  "grubs”  out  of  their  backs. 
All  sorts  of  “contests”  are  now  being  reported.  The 
latest  is  one  to  show  “the  most  beautiful  hands.”  The 
woman  who  won  said  her  best  training  was  done  by 
keeping  her  hands  in  dishwater !  That  ought  to  start 
a  rush  for  a  housekeeping  job!  It  is  one  way  to  popu¬ 
larize  a  despised  occupation. 
Muck  lands !  There  are  many  questions  about  fer¬ 
tilizing  them.  They  are  usually  quite  sour.  Therefore, 
drainage  and  lime  are  first  needed.  There  is  usually  a 
good  supply  of  nitrogen,  but  often  unavailable.  Mucks 
are  always  low  in  potash  and  phosphorus.  The  plan, 
therefore,  is  to  lime  heavily  and  use  acid  phosphate  and 
potash,  with  a  small  amount  of  nitrogen  to  start  the 
crops. 
