454 
Editorial Page of the American 
American 
Agriculturist 
Founded 1842 
Henry Morgenthau, Jk .Publisher 
E. R. Eastman . Editor 
Fred W. Ohm .Associate Editor 
Gabrielle Elliot .Household Editor 
Birge Kinne .Advertising Manager 
E. C. Weatherby. .Circulation Manager 
CONTRIBUTING STAFF 
Jared Van Wagenen, Jr., G. T. Hughes, H. E. Babcock 
OUR ADVERTISEMENTS GUARANTEED 
The American Agriculturist accepts only advertising 
which it believes to be thoroughly honest. 
We positively guarantee to our readers fair and honest 
treatment in dealing with our advertisers. 
We guarantee to refund the price of goods purchased by 
our subscribers from any advertiser who fails to make good 
when the article purchased is found not to be as advertised. 
To benefit by this guarantee subscribers must say: “I saw 
your ad in the American Agriculturist” when ordering 
from our advertisers. 
Published Weekly by 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, INC. 
Address all correspondence for editorial, advertising, or subscription de¬ 
partments to 
461 Fourth Ave., New York, N. Y. 
Entered as Second-Class Matter, December 15, 1922, at the Post Office 
at New York, N. Y„ under the Act of March 3, 1879. __ 
Subscription price, payable in advance, $1 a year. Canadian 
and foreign, $2 a year. 
VOL. 113 May 10, 1924 No. 19 
Milk Dealers Organize 
I N NEW YORK CITY there is an organization 
known as the Milk Conference Board made up 
of the larger milk buyers located not only in New 
York but in different parts of the New York milk 
zone. These buyers are milk shippers, operators 
of condenseries and other manufacturing plants. 
In addition to the Conference Board, there are 
also in New York several other dealer associations 
operating in each of the different boroughs or 
sections of the city. For example, the milk dealers 
in the Bronx have such an association with an 
adjuster to settle disputes. In Brooklyn, there is 
a similar organization, and in the main part of the 
city, there is still another association which meets 
regularly, sometimes as often as once a week. 
For the past year or so efforts have been made to 
unite all of these metropolitan dealers in one 
association which would do for the entire group 
which these borough associations have done for 
their members. Such an organization has just 
been perfected and already, so it is reported, it has 
a membership of approximately 75 per cent, of 
the milk distributors. Each member pays, a 
membership fee on joining and also a commission 
on each can of milk which he handles per day. 
This large association is to have access to the 
books of the different members, and will probably 
have a considerable regulating effect on them, 
eliminating much competition for customers 
among them, and through the information in 
possession of the central association, will keep 
every member exceedingly well posted on both 
city and country conditions. 
It is reported that the policy of this organization 
will be to discourage any starters in the business, 
that is, people who buy milk from some organiza¬ 
tion up-state which has not a market and go out 
to sell that milk in a local market without buying 
a business in the city. 
The remarkable thing about this get-together 
of the dealers is that it has been done regardless of 
the keen competition which exists among them. 
Regardless of their size, and conflicting interests, 
they have found a way through organization of 
not only exchanging information needed intelli¬ 
gently to purchase their milk, but also have found 
a way in which they could cooperate to stabilize 
the city end of the business. 
The lesson this organization of dealers sets to 
farmers of this section ought to be plain. With 
the dealers grouped together in one organization 
like a stone wall on one side, and with the dairy¬ 
men operating alone or in fighting groups on the 
other, any ten-year-old boy can see what the 
result will be. We are getting just that result 
in the prices for milk which all farmers, whether 
they are in organization or out, are now receiving. 
If it is possible for dealers whose business is so 
bitterly competitive to federate their different 
organized and unorganized groups into one con¬ 
ference board, why should it not be at least as 
easy and just plain common sense for farmers to 
do the same thing? 
Governor Signs Tax-Reduction Bill 
OVERNOR SMITH has now signed the 
bill passed in the last few days of the session 
of the New York State Legislature reducing the 
direct State tax on property one-half mill. Tax¬ 
payers will have their burden lightened by this 
law, something over eight million dollars. This 
will mean, for example that if a farmer’s valuation 
is $5,000, his reduction will be $2.50. It is the 
first break the other way in the ever-increasing 
burden of farm taxes. It came because farm 
people became so aroused on this question through 
the efforts of individuals, American Agricultur¬ 
ist and the farm organizations. We have made a 
start, not a very large one, to be sure, but it is a 
start in the right direction, and we must all work 
together to keep it going. Remember that some 
of the large reductions must 4> e in town and 
county taxes. 
We have a long program to work out, before 
we are going to get simplicity in government, less 
legislation and lower taxes. We hope that the 
subject will be talked over earnestly in farm meet¬ 
ings, milk stations, in the fields, and farm homes, 
and wherever else farmers meet. American 
Agriculturist will be glad to furnish informa¬ 
tion for special tax discussions. Blank petitions 
for reductions will be furnished upon request free 
of charge. Signing these petitions or asking us for 
information in no way obligates anyone to become 
a subscriber of this paper, or in any other way, 
except to work for lower taxes. We are in this 
tax-reduction campaign because it is right, and 
we are going to continue it not only for our own 
subscribers, but for all farmers as long as there is 
any hope of getting results. 
Do You Plant In the Moon? 
“A discussion came up yesterday among some of our em¬ 
ployees concerning the effect of the moon’s phases upon plant¬ 
ing. This discussion was brought about as the result of the 
boys making a statement to this effect, viz., that the average 
farmer hardly ever plants potatoes except in the ‘Dark of the 
Moon,’ by reason, it was presumed, that custom had been so 
established by farmers dating far back years ago. 
“The matter was referred to the writer knowing that he had 
been interested in agriculture, or rather in horticulture, having 
put in some time in two California’s citrous ranches before 
getting into the baking business. Not, knowing, however, 
whether it is fact or no, viz., that farmers follow the principle 
of planting those vegetables that grow under the soil in the 
‘Dark of the Moon’ and those that grow above the soil in the 
‘Light of the Moon,’ I promised my fellow employees that 
I would attempt to secure a scientific reason for this practice, 
and ascertain from some more authoritative source, why, if it 
does, the Moon's phases affect planting. 
“Therefore, the writer would appreciate your opinion on 
this matter.”—F. J. A., Ohio. 
HE above letter will interest every farmer. 
We told the writer what we thought about it in 
an answer which we print below. 
Then we wrote to two or three farm crop spe¬ 
cialists in the State colleges asking their opinion. 
They agreed with our answer that few farmers are 
now paying much attention to the planting of their 
crops in the moon; but one professor said that 
there never had been any actual proof one way or 
another as far as scientific investigation went, and 
therefore, as far as scientists knew, it was per¬ 
fectly possible for the moon to have some effect 
on soil and plant life. 
What do you think about it? 
Here is how we answered the letter: 
“I am very much interested in your letter of April 15 about 
planting in the ‘Dark of the Moon.’ There is absolutely no 
scientific basis for planting crops in relation to any_ of the 
moon’s phases. There was a time when this practice was 
was quite general among farmers. However, that time has 
passed, and the few men in each community who still pay 
some attention to the moon’s phases in their planting are more 
or less laughed at by progressive farmers. 
“ However* I am not so positive about anything as I used to 
American Agriculturist, May 10, 1924 
Agriculturist 
be in my teens, and the older I grow the less sure I am of any¬ 
thing that has come to be an accepted fact. All agricultural 
scientists and leaders now advise farmers to plant their crops 
in the soil instead of in the moon. 
“Nevertheless, it has never been absolutely proven to my 
knowledge that the moon does not have some effect upon plant 
growth. I heard a farmer say once when I was laughing at him 
about his superstitions that if it were true that the moon could 
have such a tremendous effect upon the tides, why was it not 
possible for the moon to affect plant growth. For all anyone 
knows he may be right, but as stated above, fewer and fewer 
farmers are paying any attention to the moon’s phases in 
their crop practice.” 
People I Have Known 
I CANNOT let Mr. Yan Wagenen’s comments on 
Page 452 on Delaware County, New York, and 
its people pass without expressing my personal 
appreciation of the folks who live in that good 
old farm county. 
For nearly two years it was my pleasure to 
travel almost daily the hills and valleys of Dela¬ 
ware and come into personal contact with its 
people. I have met with them in their barns, in 
their fields, and in their meeting places, and broken 
bread with them in their homes in every com¬ 
munity. No finer folks can be found anywhere; 
a little hard to get acquainted with at first, per¬ 
haps, not taking every stranger on his own say-so, 
but when they learn to know you, if you are 
worthy, they are with you always, during dis¬ 
couragement and depression as well as through 
the happier times. The good things of life which 
have come to my Delaware County friends they 
have earned themselves through long hours of 
hard work, good management, and especially 
because of their willingness to serve others, they 
themselves have been served. 
The Delaware County farmers in most cases 
descended from the old stock who first settled the 
land. They are typical of the real American 
farmers, who conquered the wilderness, founded 
our schools, our churches, and made this Republic 
possible, and who to-day are the most stabilizing 
influence in our uneasy social and economic life. 
When I think of the Delaware County farmers, 
and those others like them scattered up and down 
the Eastern farm country, I like to remember 
those beautiful words of Ruth when she said: 
“Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou 
lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people 
and thy God my God.”— E. R. Eastman. 
Who Is Dodging Prohibition 
Enforcement ? 
“ It is with a feeling of thankfulness that I read the final 
prohibition vote in your estimable paper. I wish to heartily 
congratulate you on confirming my own and many other 
people’s opinions. May the foothold prohibition has be 
steadily increased until it has both feet firmly standing on 
higher ground. 
“Have read your paper for fifteen years. It is the best paper 
friend the farmer has. After being bitten slightly by disrepu- 
able advertisers, we have adopted this for our motto in ans¬ 
wering advertisements: ‘Is it advertized in American Agri- 
culturist? ’ if not, leave it alone.”—A Westerlo Friend. 
A GREAT majority of the farm people will 
agree with the sentiments of this farm 
wife on prohibition, and even those who believe 
in some modification of the Eighteenth Amend¬ 
ment as it now stands are just as emphatic as 
those who favor the amendment that when a law 
is on the statute books it must be enforced. All 
right! Will you then work with American Agri¬ 
culturist, first, to find out what the condition^ 
are in regard to the enforcement of prohibition in 
your county, and then to so arouse local public 
opinion against those officers charged with the 
duty of enforcement that they will either have to 
get on the job or resign? Write us fully and in 
detail just what the conditions are in your com¬ 
munity. Your name will be held confidential. 
Eastman’s Chestnut 
STOLE the following, hook, line and sinker, 
from the Delaware County Farm Bureau News : 
Little Mary, whose parents had just moved to 
Delhi, had been operated on for appendicitis, but 
the teacher did not know this, and aske'd her in 
physiology class one day: “Mary, where is your 
appendix?” . 
Mary’s reply was somewhat disconcerting when 
she said: “ Over in Oneonta! ” 
