9*  RURAL.  NEW-YORKER 
1538 
needed  the  oil  on  many  occasions,  and  the  water 
also  foh  the  car,  and  for  camping  purposes.  I  would 
usually  camp  where  there  was  water,  but  if  I 
got  tired  with  no  water  in  sight  for  quite  a  dis¬ 
tance  I  camped  where  I  was  among  the  sagebush, 
my  favorite  place  being  beside  some  brook  all  by 
my  lonesome.  Most  of  the  cities  west  of  the  Mis¬ 
sissippi  have  public  campgrounds,  some  even  fur¬ 
nishing  camp  stoves,  wood  and  shower  baths. 
Through  the  East  the  campgrounds  are  coming  in. 
but  many  of  them  are  private,  or  as  advertisements 
for  wayside  markets,  and  where  there  are  none, 
one  can  camp  at  school-houses. 
DESIRABLE  ROUTES.— I  think  the  Lincoln 
Highway  is  the  best  route  in  the  Summer.  The 
Santa  Fe  Trail  is  used  a  great  deal,  but  the  saying 
in  Southern  California  is  that  no  one  ever  goes  over 
it  but  once.  The  desert  along  this  trail  is  very  hot, 
and  the  road  is  sandy,  so  that  it  is  not  recommended 
except  in  Winter  when  the  more  northern  routes 
are  blocked  with  snow.  If  one  wants  a  longer  route 
I  would  recommend  going  through  Canada  and  the 
Canadian  Rockies,  which  from  what  I  have  been 
told  must  be  wonderfully  beautiful.  I  know  of  no 
way  of  spending  a  vacation  better  than  that  of  tour¬ 
ing,  and  if  one  does  not  mind  roughing  it  a  little, 
then  camp  along  the  way.  I  spent  two  years  trav¬ 
eling  over  this  country  and  working  in  the  different 
States  where  I  stopped,  looking  for  a  better  place 
to  locate  than  New  England.  All  the  places  had 
their  objections,  but  I  liked  Southern  California 
best,  and  I  spent  two  Winters  working  there  on  a 
poultry  plant.  My  one  big  objection  to  California 
is  that  it  requires  about  three  times  as  much  capital 
to  start  there  for  oneself,  as  it  takes  in  New  Eng¬ 
land,  so  I  returned,  and  a  year  ago  last  month  I 
bought  a  small  farm  near  Westfield,  Mass.,  where 
I  am  trying  to  make  my  fortune  with  hens  and 
fruit,  living  alone  in  an  eight-room  house,  excepting 
for  Harry,  who  shares  my  board  (Harry  is  a  white 
cat  with  a  black  tail.)  eugene  b.  Leonard. 
Massachusetts. 
Traveling  East  to-  West 
ARE  CARE  OF  THE  CAR.— To  begin  with,  no 
one  should  attempt  a  trip  of  that  sort  unless 
his  car  be  in  perfect  condition.  The  car  should  be 
new,  or  almost  so;  a  car  several  years  old  might  do 
if  driven  by  one  who  knows  his  car  pretty  well.  In 
the  case  of  the  trip  mentioned  a  1919  Ford  was 
used,  but  was  in  perfect  condition  before  we  started. 
Even  so,  it  required  constant  inspection  and  the  re¬ 
moving  of  worn  parts  to  keep  it  in  shape,  which  at 
times  became  annoying  and  added  considerably  to 
the  expense.  Before  starting,  the  car  should  be  thor¬ 
oughly  inspected  and  all  worn  parts  replaced.  A 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  car  driven,  although  not 
essential,  will  be  very  valuable.  Cars  do  have  a 
habit  on  long  runs  of  losing  bolts,  nuts,  breaking 
connections,  and  a  hundred  and  one  small  troubles 
that  can  easily  be  taken  care  of  if  one  has  a  fair 
knowledge  of  the  car.  With  a  Ford,  especially, 
something  always  seems  to  be  loose  or  need  adjust¬ 
ment.  A  full  set  of  tools  should  be  carried  and  put 
on  the  car  in  a  convenient  place  where  they  can 
easily  be  reached..  A  full  tire  equipment  should  con¬ 
sist  of  a  good  pump,  patches,  blowout  patches,  tire 
irons  and  a  reliner.  New  tires  at  the  outset  of  the 
tour  will  save  a  lot  of  time  and  trouble;  buy  the  best 
you  can — seconds  or  cheap  tires  are  a  waste  of 
money.  Any  of  the  standard  makes  of  tires  will  do ; 
cords  are  preferable,  and  put  in  a  new  tube;  carry 
three  new  tubes  at  least  as  spares.  On  the  trip  men¬ 
tioned,  two  old  shoes  were  on  the  car;  they  gave 
trouble  before  long.  New  tires  were  put  on.  and  the 
rest  of  the  G.000  miles  was  made  with  only  three 
slow  leaks  caused  by  tacks.  These  tires  are  still 
doing  service,  and  it  looks  as  though  they  will  go 
3,000  more  for  the  worst  ones,  and  the  others  are 
good  for  6,000  more.  A  set  of  spare  parts,  consisting 
of  a  timer,  wires,  coil  points,  fan  belt,  wheel  hub 
assembly,  rear  wheel  bearing,  connecting  rod,  plugs, 
cotter  pins  and  nuts,  and  tow  rope,  should  be  in¬ 
cluded.  And  stick  to  the  instructions  given  with  the 
car  about  oiling  and  greasing. 
SLEEPING  ACCOMMODATIONS— The  most  de¬ 
sirable  method  of  sleeping  is  in  the  car.  Any  handy 
man  can  cut  the  back  of  the  front  seat  so  that  it 
folds  back,  together  with  the  back  seat,  making  a 
cushioned  bed;  upon  this  lay  a  mattress,  which  can 
be  secured  at  most  sporting  goods  stores  or  auto 
supply  houses,  made  especially  for  the  purpose.  It 
is  made  of  hair,  and  is  about  one  inch  thick,  and 
rolls  into  a  small  bundle.  Then  a  small  auto  tent, 
the  type  where  the  roof  goes  over  the  top  of  the  eai\ 
This  affords  a  dressing  room,  and  also  a  water¬ 
proof  place  where  the  luggage  can  be  put,  and  also 
in  the  case  of  a  day’s  stay  will  provide  a  dry  place. 
A  folding  table  and  chair  will  be  found  a  welcome 
luxury. 
HOUSEKEEPING  EQUIPMENT.— A  small  cab¬ 
inet  to  hold  dishes,  cooking  utensils,  staples,  and  the 
like,  can  be  made  to  bolt  securely  on  the  running- 
board  on  the  right  side  of  the  car.  By  making  the 
shelves  of  varying  sizes  to  fit  the  cans  snugly,  it  will 
prevent  a  rattling  of  tins  and  dishes.  Tin  dishes, 
although  needing  more  attention  than  other  dishes, 
owing  to  rust,  are  the  best  bet.  A  gasoline  stove  is 
indispensable;  the  one  used  on  this  trip  was  made 
by  a  prominent  gasoline  lantern  manufacturer  and 
was  a  wonder.  It  has  a  very  hot  flame,  which  can 
be  regulated  to  a  nicety,  although  the  open  fire  is 
superior  for  certain  frying  and  roasting,  the  gasoline 
stove  is  much  quicker  and  easier,  to  say  nothing  of 
“We  Must  Eat  More  Wheat ” 
I  am  enclosing  snapshot  of  William  Roger,  who 
is  heartily  interested  in  “eat  more  wheat.”  The 
slogan  is  surely  to  be  approved,  but  I  trust  the 
whole  family  won’t  begin  indulging  to  this  extent. 
Vermont.  •  ethel  a.  lyons. 
Surely  if  every  American  proceeded  to  eat  more 
wheat  “up  to  the  limit”  of  William  Rogeirs  evident 
intention  we  should  soon  be  importing  grain  and 
the  wheat  growers  would  be  in  clovei*.  But  in  a 
dairy  State  like  Vermont  there  must  be  butter  on 
the  bread,  and  a  glass  of  milk  to  go  with  it.  For 
wheat  alone  is  not  a  “balanced  x*ation.”  More  vita- 
mines  are  needed.  But  William  Roger  is  beginning 
early  in  life  to  set  us  all  an  example.  If  we  want 
more  wheat  or  potatoes  or  milk  consumed  “we  must 
do  it  ourselves.” 
the  smoke  and  hardship  at  times  of  getting  suit¬ 
able  wood.  For  cool  nights  an  opexx  fire  for  con¬ 
genial  warmth  and  camaraderie  is  a  treat.  Do  not 
attempt  to  use  a  gasoline  stove  on  the  running- 
board  of  an  automobile — it  is  very  dangerous.  A 
five-gallon  canvas  water  bag,  a  good  ax,  enough 
warm  blankets,  spare  gas  and  oil  can,  and  chains, 
should  go  to  make  up  the  equipment. 
DRESSING  FOR  THE  TRIP.— In  the.  matter  of 
clothes,  dress  warmly.  A  stout-  pair  of  shoes,  wool¬ 
en  socks,  warm  trousers  and  shirt,  a  good  sweater, 
mackinaw  and  cap  and  gloves  will  do  the  trick.  It 
must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  differences  in  tem- 
perature  are  rather  great.  In  the  valleys  it  will  be 
warm,  in  the  higher  elevations  eoolei*,  and  on  the 
mountain  ranges  cold ;  and  your  clothes  should  be 
elastic  enough  to  fit  all  these  conditions  without 
burdening  yourself  and  the  car  with  an  extra  sup¬ 
ply  of  clothes.  Goloshes  and  a  raincoat  for  wet 
weather  will  be  a  welcome  asset.  A  good  suit  of 
clothes  and  personal  belongings  can  be  put  into  a 
suitcase.  august  fisciier. 
(To  Be  Continued  Next  Week) 
New  England  Peat  Fuel 
I  NOTICED  that  there  have  been  several  ai’ticles 
about  peat  for  fuel  in  New  England.  Here,  in 
Madison,  Conn.,  we  have  a  tract  containing  about 
December  22,  1923 
eight  acres  of  excellent  peat  running  probably  15 
to  20  ft.  deep. 
When  this  is  dug  it  is  very  dark  brown.  We  dig 
it  out,  lay  it  on  the  ground,  allowing  it  to  dry  sev¬ 
eral  days,  then  turn  it  over,  let  it  dry  for  a  few 
days  more,  when  it  is  carted  home  and  stored  under 
a  good  roof  to  keep  it  out  of  all  storms. 
It  is  my  firm  belief  that  if  this  peat  were  pressed 
into  small  bricks,  similar  to  the  pressed  coal  which 
is  now  on  the  mai’ket,  it  would  be  far  superior  to 
the  manufactui-ed  coal.  We  are  at  present  using  it 
for  fuel  and  find  it  excellent.  It  makes  a  steady 
fire  with  less  dirt  and  very  little  ashes  compared 
with  coal.  With  suitable  preparation  a  fire  can  be 
kept  over  night,  and  what  ashes  there  are  left 
have  some  value. 
So  far  it  has  been  dug  by  hand,  but  it  seems  if 
there  was  some  machinery  adapted  for  this  purpose 
it  would  cut  the  labor  cost  50  per  cent.  One  man 
is  able  with  a  spade  to  dig  about  three  tons  per 
day.  This  must  be  turned  in  a  few  days,  then 
turned  again,  and  then  carted  off  the  meadow. 
It  has  all  the  qualifications  of  coal,  but  in  using 
it  there  is  no  smoke  and  no  gas.  It  seems  as  if  New 
England  being  an  industrial  center  could  utilize 
this  peat  in  the  industries,  if  some  way  could  be  de¬ 
vised  to  handle  it  quickly  in  the  Summer  when  the 
weather  is  suitable  for  di’ying.  c.  l.  sonnichsen. 
Connecticut. 
As  stated  on  page  1466,  we  are  using  samples  of 
prepared  peat  which  gives  a  very  fair  substitute 
for  coal.  The  peat  is  ground  fine,  dried  and  pi-essed 
into  small  chunks  quite  convenient  for  handling. 
We  firmly  believe  that  in  the  future  this  prepared 
peat  will  help  solve  the  fuel  pi’oblem  for  New  Eng¬ 
land,  and  greatly  change  the  industry  of  that  sec¬ 
tion. 
Cost  of  Growing  Michigan  Apples 
HE  Gi-and  Rapids  (Mich.)  Press  pi’ints  the  fol¬ 
lowing  statement  from  Frank  E.  Warner  con¬ 
densed  fi’om  a  paper  l’ead  at  the  Michigan  State 
Horticultural  Society  meeting: 
“It  cost  32  cents  a  bushel  to  produce  apples  in 
Southwestern  Michigan  this  year.  This  statement 
is  supported  by  the  records  of  one  of  the  most 
progressive  fruit  growers  in  the  State. 
“Frank  E.  Warner,  South  Haven  fruit  grower- 
banker-co-operator,  is  authority  for  the  assertion. 
In  a  modest  business-like  manner  he  presented  the 
facts  and  figures  proving  that  he  spent  32  cents  for 
each  bushel  of  fruit  pi’oduced  in  a  17-year-old  seven- 
acre  block  of  Duchess-Wealthy-Baldwin  trees  on  his 
fai'm  this  season. 
“A  record  of  every  penny  spent  on  this  farm  of 
Warner’s  is  accounted  for  in  the  books.  The  cost  of 
the  orchai'd  in  question  was  placed  at  $2,100.  Inter¬ 
est  on  this  investment  at  6  per  cent  per  annum  was 
$126.  Two  tons  of  acid  phosphate  were  applied  at 
a  cost  of  $50;  1.200  lbs.  of  ammonia  sulphate  at  an 
expense  of  $39. 
“Other  items  were  as  follows;  Light  pruning,  one 
man  for  three  days,  $9;  dormant  spi’ay,  lime  sulphur, 
1  to  6,  2,400  gallons,  $52.50 ;  prepink  spray,  lime- 
sulphur,  1  to  40.  2.400  gallons,  $9 ;  pink  spray,  lime- 
sulphur,  1  to  40,  Kayso  and  ai’senate  of  lead,  2,800 
gallons,  $28.98;  calyx  spi*ay,  lime-sulphur,  1  to  40, 
Kayso  and  lead,  2,800  gallons,  -  $28.98;  first  Sum¬ 
mer  spray,  same  matei’ials,  2,S00  gallons,  $2S.9S ; 
second  Summer  spray,  same  materials,  2,800  gallons, 
$2S.9S ;  labor  cost  in  spraying,  $60 ;  cultivating,  six 
days,  man  and  team,  $36;  thinning,  12  days,  $36; 
picking  crop  at  8  cents  a  bushel,  $255.20 ;  10  bushels 
of  rye  for  cover  crop,  $6.50 ;  sowing  rye,  $6 ;  depre¬ 
ciation  on  equipment  chargeable  to  seven  acres.  $42 ; 
taxes.  $127.67 ;  ■  manager’s  salary,  estimated,  $50. 
Total  cost  of  producing  ci’op,  $1,020.49. 
“In  return  for  this  expense  Mt.  Warner  received 
3,190  bushels  of  apples.  They  were  produced  as  fol¬ 
lows  :  142  Duchess  ti’ees  yielded  1,665  bushels  of 
fruit;  140  Wealthy  trees,  1,325  bushels;  18  Baldwin 
ti’ees,  200  bushels. 
"The  cost  of  spraying  is  an  important  item  in  the 
production  of  fruit,  Mr.  Warner  pointed  out.  He 
said  it  cost  7.4  cents  per  bushel  to  spi’ay  the  trees. 
He  applied  4.4  gallons  of  spi’ay  for  each  bushel  of 
fruit  during  the  season. 
“This  is  the  first  time  that  reliable  cost  figures 
have  been  presented  to  the  society.  After  he  spent 
32  cents  a  bushel  to  grow  the  fruit,  Warner  said  he 
further  went  to  the  expense  of  buying  packages 
and  delivering  the  ci’op  to  the  packing  house  in 
South  Haven,  items  which  virtually  doubled  the 
growing  cost. 
"Based  on  these  figures  a  grower  must  avei’age 
65  cents  a  bushel  for.  every  bushel  produced  to  break 
even,  say  nothing  of  returning  a  profit  to  the  owner.” 
