Sfce  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
161 
The  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society 
A  Great  Meeting  at  Albany 
These  officers  were  chosen  for  the  year  1016  by  the 
members  of  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Society 
at  its  annual  meeting  held  at  the  Capitol  in  Albany, 
January  10th: 
President,  Fred  W.  Sessions.  ;  vice  presidents,  first 
district,  L.  C.  Tuckerman,  Milton  ;  second,  Charles  W. 
Howell.  Jtiverbead ;  third,  Gilbert  M.  Tucker.  Albany; 
fourth,  G.  T.  Seelye,  Saratoga ;  fifth.  Wing  It.  Smith, 
Syracuse;  sixth.  Samuel  Fraser,  Geueseo;  seventh, 
Seth  J.  T.  Bush,  Morton;  eighth.  Booth  C.  I  lav  is,  Al¬ 
fred;  ninth,  F.  A.  Taber,  Poughkeepsie;  treasurer.  II. 
B.  Winters,  Albany;  secretary.  II.  E.  Cole,  Albany. 
Executive  committee- — Augustus  Denniston,  Washing- 
tonville;  j.  A.  D.  S.  Findlay,  Salisbury  Mills;  E.  A. 
Tuttle,  Eastport ;  II.  E.  Cook.  Denmark;  Tticbard  T. 
Wainwright.  Rye;  Edward  Van  Alstvne.  Kinderhook ; 
George  W.  Sisson,  jr„  Potsdam;  T.  B.  Wilson,  ITall; 
C.  Fred  Bosbart.  Lowville. 
The  attendance  at  the  various  sessions  of  the  seventy- 
sixth  annual  meeting  of  the  State  Agricultural  Society 
was  most  gratifying  and  made  clear  that  the  venerable 
society  still  held  its  place,  in  the  esteem  of  its  members 
and  of  quite  a  considerable  number  of  persons  who, 
though  not  members,  took  advantage  of  the  invitation 
to  attend  the  sessions.  The  program,  as  previously 
published  in  these  columns,  was  adhered  to,  and  the 
care  in  its  preparation  was  commended  by  those  who 
appreciated  a  well-rounded,  thoroughly  balanced  ration 
likely  to  appeal  to  agricultural  folk.  It  is  impossible 
to  give  even  a  synopsis  of  the  many  prepared  papers — 
more  than  a  score  in  number — but  it  is  hoped  that  all 
will  appear  in  the  annual  report  of  tlie  society,  when 
published. 
Former  Assemblyman  C.  Fred  Bosbart  reported  con¬ 
cerning  the  legislation  of  the  past  year,  stating  but 
few  laws  affecting  agriculture  had  been  placed  on  the 
statute  books,  but  that  the  apple-packing  law  was 
worthy  of  notice.  He  advocated  larger  penalties  against 
offenders  to  discourage  their  repeating  their  offenses; 
the  Agricultural  Department  had  already  made  233 
cases  against  violators.  He  warned  his  hearers  that 
there  was  a  movement  on  foot  to  secure  Federal  legisla¬ 
tion  which  would  nullify  the  State  law  requiring  uni¬ 
formity  of  pack  and  branding  when  the  apples  were 
sent  outside  the  State.  He  declared  it  was  the  outside 
market  which  this  State  should  defend,  and  advised  that 
a  watchful  eye  be  kept  on  Washington.  Mr.  Bosbart 
considered  the  most  important  of  the  laws  passed  at 
the  last  session  to  be  that  requiring  the  licensing  and 
bonding  of  milk-gathering  stations.  Among  other 
things*.  Mr.  Bosbart  said:  “During  the  past  Fall  the 
Foods  and  Markets  Commission  demonstrated  the  value 
of  its  work  in  the  establishment  of  public  markets  for 
the  sale  of  apples.  These  public  sales  established  a 
market  price  for  apples  that  proved  very  satisfactory 
and  produced  a  greater  profit  to  the  grower.  What 
can  be  done  in  the  sale  of  fruit,  ought  to  be  accom¬ 
plished  in  the  sale  of  other  farm  products.  It  is  evi¬ 
dent  the  Foods  and  Markets  Commissioh  should  be 
put  in  better  shape  for  greater  and  more  effective  ser¬ 
vice  with  liberal  appropriations  to  carry  out  the  scope 
of  its  work.” 
The  presentation  of  this  report  of  the  committee  on 
legislation  was  followed  by  the  reading  of  papers  as 
scheduled  in  the  program.  That  of  Daniel  Dean,  of 
Nichols,  on  growing  and  marketing  potatoes  was  lis¬ 
tened  to  with  great  attention,  and  it  was  too  bad  there 
were  not  more  people  present  to  hear  it.  Mrs.  Julian 
Heath,  president  of  the  National  Housewives’  League, 
was  unable  to  be  present  to  tell  of  the  farm  woman 
in  the  League,  but  Mrs.  Frank  Tabor  of  Poughkeepsie, 
possibly  received  the  more  praise  for  being  the  only 
woman  who  addressed  the  meeting.  Her  paper  was  on 
preserving  farm  wastes,  and  was  excellent.  Coopera¬ 
tion  was  the  keynote  of  the  entire  meeting — the  neces¬ 
sity  for  it,  and  the  good  results  which  are  bound  to 
flow  from  intelligent  and  faithful  cooperation,  and  the 
tale  of  “The  Farmers’  Fnion  of  Maine,”  as  related  by 
F.  E.  Fmbree  of  Watervillc,  Me.,  came  in  particularly 
pat,  and  when  available  in  its  printed  form  will  com¬ 
mand  and  receive  the  attention  it  merits. 
President  Dillon  read  his  annual  report  Tuesday 
afternoon  to  an  audience  which  filled  every  nook  and 
corner  of  the  large  assembly  parlor. 
lion.  F.  S.  Brigham,  Vermont’s  commissioner  of  agri¬ 
culture.  is  a  man  to  be  listened  to,  for  his  knowledge 
is  from  the  ground  up.  Ilis  treatment  of  his  subject, 
"The  Standardization  of  Farm  Products,”  was  such 
as  to  secure  for  him  the  flattering  compliment  of  the 
closest  attention  front  his  audience.  Mr.  Brigham  was 
followed  by  lion.  Marcus  M.  Marks.  Borough  Presi¬ 
dent  of  New  York,  who  talked  of  the  lower  cost  of 
living.  Mr.  Marks  is  the  man  who  persisted  until  New 
York  City  had  the  advantages  of  four  great  new  free 
public  markets,  and  his  story  of  their  patronage  by 
people  who  had  never  been  to  any  market  hut  a  gro¬ 
cery  or  meat  store,  was  of  the  greatest,  interest.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  Mr.  Marks  unqualifiedly  en¬ 
dorsed  the  work  of  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Mar¬ 
kets,  and  advised  the  members  of  the  society  to  stand 
behind  it.  The  next  two  papers.  ‘‘Farm  Problems  in 
Congress”  and  “National  Marketing  of  Farm  Products” 
were  both  of  interest,  and  from  the  latter  came  a  reso¬ 
lution  for  national  cooperation  which  was  adopted  the 
following  day. 
At  the  evening  session,  held  in  the  Senate  Chamber, 
more  than  300  people  assembled  to  listen  to  two  speak¬ 
ers  of  wide  reputation — George  IV,  Perkins,  of  New 
York  city,  and  President  Kenyon  L.  Butterfield  of  Am¬ 
herst,  Mass..  Agricultural  College.  President  Butter¬ 
field  is  one  of  the  most  gratifying  speakers  imaginable. 
His  subject,  “Vital  Issues  in  Rnial  Organization,”  was 
one  on  which  he  is  an  authority,  and  his  review  of  the 
past  and  its  conditions  which  produced  an  American 
farmer,  a  type  of  man  peculiar  to  this  country  and 
scarcely  with  an  equal  in  any  age.  held  the  audience 
entranced.  George  w.  Perkins,  who  announced  him¬ 
self  as  a  business  man,  but  who  was  equally  as  well- 
known  to  his  hearers  as  the  great  apostle  of  Progres¬ 
sives.  as  is  his  custom,  plunged  into  the  middle  of  his 
subject — “City  Markets" — with  a.  hang,  declaring  there 
was  something  wrong  up  the  State  and  something 
wrong  down  the  State  which  causes  this  high  cost  of 
living.  “This  condition  is  not  due  to  the  lack  of  food.” 
said  Mr.  Perkins,  “for  plenty  is  being  raised,  and  we  all 
know  that  producers  of  foodstuffs  are  complaining  bit¬ 
terly  because  they  cannot  get  their  produce  from  the 
point  of  production  to  the  city  and  market  it.  at  a  price 
that  pays  them  for  raising  it.  There  is  a  lack  of  ade¬ 
quate  plan  of  supplying  the  city  of  New  York  with 
food,  aud  the  system  of  supply  is  the  same  as  60  years 
ago.  In  my  judgment  this  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  State 
has  almost  entirely  neglected  to  render  the  service  it. 
might  have  given  to  the  people  in  the  matter  of  their 
food  supplies.”  Then  Mr.  Perkins  related  the  con¬ 
ditions  he  found  to  exist  while  serving  on  the  mayor’s 
committee  to  investigate  the  city  market  problem.  The 
applause  he  received  at  the  conclusion  of  his  speech 
must,  have  been  gratifying.  Commissioner  Wilson 
made  a  short  address  on  what  the  Department  of  Agri¬ 
culture  of  the  State  is  doing  to  spread  abroad  a  knowl¬ 
edge  of  the  laws  concerning  which  many  farmers  claim 
they  have  no  information.  Governor  Whitman  was  to 
have  made  the  opening  address,  but  was  unable  to 
reach  the  chamber  until  just  before  the  dose  of  the 
session ;  he  made  a  few  remarks,  stating  that  he  was 
ignorant  of  agricultural  matters,  but  hoped  to  learn 
from  the  farmers  those  things  wherein  his  education 
had  been  deficient. 
At  the  session  Wednesday  morning  the  members  lis¬ 
tened  to  the  formal  reports  of  committees,  after  which 
the  officers  named  at  the  beginning  of  this  were  chosen 
for  the  present  year.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  tendered 
the  retiring  President  by  every  person  in  the  room, 
after  which  the  reading  of  jmpors  was  resumed.  Dr. 
V.  A.  Moore,  dean  of  the  New  York  State  Veterinary 
College,  treated  the  subject  of  “Pasteurization  of 
Skimmed  Milk  aud  Whey  for  Feeding  Calves.”  Fol¬ 
lowing  Dr.  Moore  came  Commissioner  Holme,  of  the 
Michigan  Dairy  and  Food  Department,  whose  subject 
was  “Dairy  Interests.”  and  a  description  of  “The  Na¬ 
tional  Dairy  Show”  by  its  secretary.  W.  E.  Skinner,  of 
Chicago.  At  the  afternoon  session  the  farm  bureau 
agent  of  Dutchess  County.  F.  E.  Lacy,  told  of  the  op¬ 
portunities  the  farm  bureau  men  have,  and  of  some  of 
his  perplexities.  George  Batten  of  Now  York  spoke 
entertainingly  on  advertising  a  State’s  products;  Pres¬ 
ident  of  the  Land  Bank,  Hon.  It.  G.  Parker,  of  Gover- 
neur,  told  of  the  progress  of  the  hank:  Dr.  I,.  S.  Haw¬ 
kins  read  a  paper  on  agricultural  education  in  the 
high  and  common  schools  of  the  State.  This  ended  the 
formal  program. 
The  following  resolutions  in  addition  to  the  one  on 
the  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets,  referred  to  ou 
page  160,  were  passed: 
“WHEREAS,  the  meetings  for  cooperative  organiza¬ 
tion  and  the  two  conferences  held  at  Utica  under  the 
Bureau  of  Cooperation  afforded  the.  farmers  in  the  sev¬ 
eral  parts  of  the  State  an  opportunity  to  become  in¬ 
formed  as  to  the  advantages  of  working  together  in  the 
purchase  of  supplies  and  the  joint  sale  of  their  pro¬ 
duce,  aud 
“WHEREAS,  the  'Joint  Purchasing  Committee  of 
New  York  State  Cooperative  Associations’  was  able  to 
save  the  New  York  farmers  from  l(p;  to  25#  on  the 
prevailing  prices  on  some  230  carloads  of  fertilizers, 
feeds,  seeds,  coal,  insecticides,  etc.,  during  the  past  sea¬ 
son  : 
“BE  IT  RESOLVED,  that  an  adequate  appropria¬ 
tion  be  asked  of  the  Legislature  to  enable  the  Depart¬ 
ment  of  Agriculture  to  carry  on  the  work  initiated  un¬ 
der  the  Cooperative  Bureau. 
“1\  JIEREAS.  the  first  issue  of  bonds  of  the  newly 
organized  Land  Bank  of  the  State  of  New  York  was 
placed  with  one  of  the  largest  Trust  Companies  of  New 
York  on  a  basis  of  at  a  time  tv  hen  gilt-edge  se¬ 
curities  were  being  taken  at  6%.  thus  showing  conclu¬ 
sively  the  financial  confidence  in  and  soundness  of  Land 
Bank  Bonds,  and 
“WHEREAS,  the  legislation  providing  for  the  Land 
Bank  of  the  State  of  New  York  was  secured  in  pur¬ 
suance  of  the  policies  of  this  Society  and  largely 
through  its  efforts,  and 
“V  I1EKEAS,  the  Land  Bank  gives  an  opportunity  to 
many  farmers  to  obtain  loans  where  they  could  not  ob¬ 
tain  them  before,  therefore 
“BE  IT  RESOLVED,  that  the  New  York  State 
Agricultural  Society  hereby  unqualifiedly  reaffirms  its 
endorsement  of  the  Land  Bank  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  and 
“BE  IT  FI  RT1IFR  RESOLVED,  that  the  farmers 
of  the  State  are  urged  to  avail  themselves  of  the  Land 
Bank  legislation  by  organizing  local  Farmers’  Savings 
and  Loan  Associations. 
“RES(  lL\  ED,  that  the  New  York  State  Agricul¬ 
tural  Society  is  in  favor  of  improving  rural  credit 
conditions  by  the  enactment  of  suitable  federal  legis¬ 
lation. 
“RESOLVED,  that  we  endorse  the  provisions  of 
House  Bill  Number  0053,  introduced  in  the  National 
Congress  by  Congressman  Sumners,  a  copy  of  which 
bill  accompanies  this  report. 
“RESOLVED,  that,  the  Now  York  State  Agricul¬ 
tural  Society  in  anmuil  meeting  assembled,  after  lis¬ 
tening  to  the  paper  by  Dr.  V.  A.  Moore  upon  the  pas¬ 
teurization  of  skim-iuilk  and  whey,  unqualifiedly  ap¬ 
proves  and  endorses  the  same,  and  urges  the  Legislature 
and  thi'  Governor  to  include  in  the  budget  for  1916 
sufficient  funds  to  continue  the  experimental  work  of 
the  Veterinary  College  at  Cornell  University  in  animal 
diseases." 
Seth  ,T.  T.  Bush,  of  Morton,  was  the  toastmaster  at 
a  banquet  held  at  Stanwix  Hall  in  the  evening,  which 
was  well  attended. 
Notes  from  the  Auction 
One  of  the  strongest  possible  demonstrations  in  favor 
of  the  auction  system  of  marketing  apples  over  the  old 
system  of  private  sales  was  made  in  the  auction  rooms 
last  week.  Mr.  Mitchell  of  Stuy vesant  Falls,  N.  Y., 
shipped  in  SO  barrels  of  good  quality  Jonathans.  One 
of  the  dealers  made  an  offer  of  $3.50  for  them  at  private 
sale.  The  price  was  regarded  as  good,  considering  the 
condition  of  tlie  general  apple  market  at  that  time. 
Mr.  Mitchell,  however,  believes  in  the  auction  system. 
and  gave  instructions  to  bare  them  put  up  by  the  auc¬ 
tioneer  and  directions  to  sell  iu  case  the  bid  was  as 
high  as  $3.25.  At  the  auction  sale  the  next  day  the 
apples  sold  at  $4.15  a  barrel,  and  the  dealer  who  of¬ 
fered  $3.50  the  day  before  and  would  pay  no  more, 
was  the  buyer  at  $4.15  the  following  day. 
The  full  auction  sales  for  that  one  day  are  given  be¬ 
low  and  will  give  a  fair  idea  of  the  run  of  prices.  One 
car  front  Michigan  was  delayed  in  transit  and  frosted, 
and  while  the  sale  was  good  for  the  condition,  the  price 
was  considerably  less  than  it  would  have  been  if  the 
car  had  been  properly  protected  or  properly  delivered. 
A  claim  has  been  presented  to  the  railroad  company 
for  the  damage.  Some  of  tin*  apples  of  this  car  wore 
in  boxes,  and  sold  equal  to  Oregon  and  Washington 
boxed  apples  at  prices  from  $1  to  $1.35  for  Bald¬ 
wins.  If  unchilled,  this  shipment  would  have  sold  30 
cents  per  box  higher,  and  tlie  barrels  would  have  easily 
brought  $3.  The  claim  Was  made  against  the  railroad 
Company  on  this  basis. 
The  following  is  a  record  of  the  last  day’s  sale: 
APPLES.— t)  hbls.  Bellflower  $2.35;  13  Tolrnan 
$3.05;  40  Spits  $2.75;  11  Peck’s  Pleasant  $2.40:  47 
Greening  $2.45;  11  $2.70;  IS  Bottle  Greening  $2.60; 
17  Canada  Red  $2.75;  4  Lady  Sweet  $2.05;  6  $2.55; 
4  I'omme  Griso  $2.05;  15  boxes  Baldwin  $1.30;  54 
$1.35;  44  $1.10;  40  $1:  40  bids.  $2.05;  20  $2.10  ;  06 
$2.15:  2  Baldwin  $2.10;  5  $1.75;  3  $1.55;  4  boxes 
Boiken  $1.65;  1  $1.70;  3  bkts,  Otic;  2  05c;  2  boxes 
Jonathan  $1.15;  1  Banana  $1.30;  8L  hbls.  Jonathan 
$4.15;  5  Ben  Davis  $2.30;  50  $2.25. 
CRANBERRIES.— 5  hbls.  $S.20. 
New  York  State  News 
FARM  BUREAU  INSTITUTES.— What  seeing  to 
be  something  of  an  innovation  is  the  holding  of  farm¬ 
ers’  institutes  by  county  farm  bureaus.  These  are 
usually  one-day  meetings  held  at  several  different  points 
in  the  county.  For  instance  in  Onondaga  County  three 
meetings  are  being  held  this  week,  one  at  Onondaga 
Hill,  one  at.  Amboy  and  one  at  Fail-mount  school  house. 
The  manager  of  the  bureau.  Mr,  Martin,  conducts  the 
meetings  and  is  assisted  by  E.  R.  Smith  of  Cusog.  who 
has  the  distinction  of  raising  425  bushels  of  potatoes 
on  an  acre  last  season.  The  subjects  discussed  at  these 
meetings  are  essentially  the  same,  and  cover  the  more 
important  features  of  farming,  dairying  and  fruit 
growing. 
SIN  C  LA  I II VI L  LE  GETS  STATE  FARM. — At  a 
meeting  of  the  land  commission  iu  Albany  a  short  time 
ago,  these  officials  decided  to  deed  the  farm  property 
which  had  boon  rented  by  the  Sinclairville  high  school, 
to  the  school  district  for  educational  purposes.  This 
school  has  an  agricultural  department  aud  has  so 
commended  itself  to  the  land  eominission  as  to  win 
for  it  the  farm  lands,  which  will  give  the  school  greater 
possibilities  than  ever. 
APPROPRIATIONS  FOR  FARM  BUREAUS.— 
According  to  a  report  by  the  director  of  Farm  Bureau 
work  for  the  State,  26  out  of  31  boards  of  supervisors 
have  thus  far  appropriated  an  average  of  $1,602  for 
h  arm  Bureau  purposes  as  against  an  average  of  $1,521 
last  year,  for  the  31  counties.  Of  this  number  15 
counties  have  increased  their  appropriations,  10  have 
renewed  them  and  one  lias  reduced  the  amount.  Jeffer¬ 
son  aud  Otsego  have  appropriated  $500  and  $400  re¬ 
spectively  for  home  economics  work.  Throe  new  coun¬ 
ties  have  made  appropriations:  Tioga  $1,200;  Albany 
$1,500;  Schoharie  $1,800. 
COMMISSIONER  OF  AGRICULTURE’S  RE¬ 
PORT.  rim  twenty -third  annual  report  of  the  Com¬ 
missioner  of  Agriculture  is  just  issued.  The  crops  of 
the  State  aggregate  in  value  $266,000,000  and  adding 
dairy  and  animal  products  the  total  is  $475,000,000. 
Indications  point  to  a  great  scarcity  of  farm  labor  for 
10l(>.  The  foot-and-mouth  disease  caused  a  direct  loss, 
in  this  State,  of  about  $500,000.  one  half  of  which  is  a 
State  liability  and  one-lialf  is  paid  by  the  Federal  gov¬ 
ernment.  The  Commissioner  states  that  the  food  pro¬ 
ducts  now  sold  in  this  State  are  practically  free  from 
harmful  ingredients.  Food  cases  to  the  number  of  3.000 
have  been  investigated  by  the  Department’s  bureaus. 
The  State  condemned  and  killed  about  2.000  cattle, 
their  indemnity  value  being  $100,000.  Glanders  caused 
tin*  killing  of  1.200  animals  with  an  appraised  value 
of  about  $80,000.  A  total  of  $326,189.20  was  paid  in 
premiums  by  the  88  county  and  town  fair  associations 
at  the  fairs  held  in  1014.  j.  w.  d. 
Ohio  Crops  and  Prices 
The  State  Board  of  Agriculture  gives  the  following 
report :  Ter  cent.  Per  cent. 
1915  1010 
Wheat — Condition  compared  with  an  av¬ 
erage  . . ,  . .  95  S5 
Corn — Condition  in  crib  compared  with 
an  average  .  96  SS 
Corn — Condition  in  shock  compared  with 
an  average  .  01  85 
Corn — Amount  not  yet  husked  .  13  17 
Corn  Amount  that  will  be  fed  on  farm  80  S4 
Hogs — Condition  compared  with  an  aver 
age  . .  04  03 
Hogs— Number  fattening  now  in  farm¬ 
ers’  hands  .  4S  44 
Fall  Pigs  Number  compared  with  an  av- 
^  crage  .  SO  S6 
Fall  Pigs — Condition  compared  with  an 
average  .  04  04 
Sheep — Condition  compared  with  an  aver¬ 
age  . 06  06 
Cattle — Condition  compared  with  an  av¬ 
erage  . 06  07 
Horses — Condition  compared  with  an  av¬ 
erage  .  97  98 
AVERAGE  PRICES. 
Wheat,  per  bushel  .  $1.16  $1.14 
Corn,  per  bushel  . 66  .66 
Barley,  per  bushel . 66  .67 
<  lata,  per  bushel  . 48  .41 
Rye,  per  bushel  .  . . 88  AG 
Potatoes,  per  bushel  . 60  .80 
Hay,  per  ton  .  14.00  13.30 
Alfalfa,  per  ton  .  16.09  15.24 
