Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-08-09
ROBBING THE FARMER.
A Few Words Of Caution From One Of Our
Prominent Ranchmen.


BoSTON. Mass, July 2l, 1907.
Readers of magazines and papers
of every description are familiar
with numerous advertisements set
ting forth the astounding merits of
various condition powders, condi-
mental foods and remedies for farm
stock. A prosperous looking hen, 4
corpulent hog. powerful bull, sleek
appearing COW or spirited horse, us
ually illus trateS the alluring adver-
tisement. Sometimes the same pro-
prietary article will make hens lay,
fatten hogs, increase the flow of milk
in cows and cure every disease
known to poultry or any other farm
stock and even some ailmcnt known
to the human animal. y certain
stock food, 'a prmlncf of sritnce pre-
p"t~d by graduates Of me'iic'nr. ph"r-
mncy and rrterinary," will cure all
eases of horses, prevent loss of cud,
bloat, tlatulence, cure diarrhpa, con-
Stipation and rheumatism in cattle
and all diseases of swine. This mar
velous scientific compound is shown
by analyses to be made chiefly of
wheat feed and corn, with a little
mixture of common salt, lime and
glauhcr salts. All that the farmer
has to do is to administer Il very
small dose of the mixture to his
stock and find himself travelling on
the highway to wealth. Testimon-
ialS of course are not lacking from
enthusiastic farmers who have used
the magic foods or remedies with
the most gratifying results. Thort
are in tho neighborhood of one hun
dwd and fifty of these preparations
ON the market, all of 'em virtually
Swindles. Competent eXperimen
ters have demonstrated the worth
leSSneSS of these foods and remedies
vet the sale goes on because the re-
suits of their experiments are I'M
known to the great farming public
The contiding farmer is usually as
surcd that these condimental food.
are prepared according to some sri'n
the tolmuiu. Undoubtedly this is
true but it does not belong to thu
science of agriculture. There i:
much truth in Barnms remal
That the public likes to hc hum
bugged," and it is equally true thai
sucker is hnrn every minute.
As the almighty dollar is the su
preue interest of our lives, the cOS
of these goods may appropriately b.
mentioned first: The variations il
the prices of condimental compound:
follow no known law except that ia
miliar to CAPTAINS of industry of ex
acting all the traffic will bear. 4
horse and cattle powder, containing
wheat, oats, sulphur. Saltpeter ant
Epsom salts, retails at 36.3 cents pei
pound, which is precisely $Sl6.15 PEI
ton. The farmer knows the price o
wheat, but he does not know th'
mysterious drugs in the wonder
working food nor their cost. Ii h,
did, the horse medicine man : Occu
patton would be gone. Mystery al
WAYS has been the medicine man :
strong card. Wheat feed retailS a
say $l.20 per cwt. Sulphur at
cents and under per pound, saltpcte1
at I cents and less and Epson salt:
from | to Ii cents per pound. Les
than ) per cent of this horse ant
cattle powder consisted of these in
expensive drugs. Yet for this in
=. significant addition, at the most rep
resenting an outlay of two or thN'
dollars per ton, the price is RAISED
$7S9.75 per ton. \ pretty goo'
price to pay for being humbusged.