247 
Notes  from  the  Auction  Market 
Pei’haps  the  strongest  indorsement  yet  for  the  auc¬ 
tion  system  of  selling  fruit  came  last,  week  from  an  un¬ 
suspecting  source.  One  of  the  produce  trade  papers 
That  could  not  be  accused  of  partiality  to  the  Depart¬ 
ment  selected  a  period  when  there  was  a  slump  in  the 
apple  market,  from  December  6th  to  January  12th,  and 
wrote  the  shippers  to  the  auction  market  inviting 
complaints.  When  prices  are  low  for  any  cause  ship¬ 
pers  may  be  expected  to  complain  more  than  at  times 
of  high  prices,  even  though  the  low  prices  compared 
favorably  with  the  market  at  the  time.  The  paper  re¬ 
ported  22  replies  and  92  per  cent,  were  favorable ; 
four  per  cent,  were  neutral,  and  only  four  per  cent, 
felt  that  the  returns  were  not  as  satisfactory.  When 
a  new  agency  comes  into  a  market  like  New  York  and 
accepts  small  shipments  from  individual  growers,  often 
without  skill  in  growing  or  care  in  packing  and  little 
or  no  attention  to  grading,  and  satisfies  96  per  cent, 
on  a  falling  market,  it  is  getting  pretty  dose  to  par 
on  service. 
The  following  recent  letters  show  that  producers  ap¬ 
preciate  an  honest  deal  when  they  get  it : 
I  received  your  sales  of  the  last  car  of  apples  and 
would  say  I  am  very  well  pleased  with  the  way  you 
sold  both  cars.  I  shipped  oue  ear  to  a  commission 
house,  and  I  feel  sure  if  I  had  let  you  sell  it.  I  would 
have  at  least  $100  more  than  I  got.  I  have  succeeded 
in  getting  II.  A.  Whipple  to  ship  you  two  cars,  and 
T  feel  sure  you  will  have  more  from  here.  I  go  right 
up  and  show  my  returns,  which  is  something  I  have 
not  seen  anybody  do  that  has  shipped  to  a  commission 
house,  hut  from  their  talk  I  did  311st  as  well.  I  have 
no  more  apples,  but  we  have  about  65,000  in  the  stor¬ 
age.  They  are  not  moving  very  fast  yet. 
Brockport,  N.  Y.  geo.  p.  Gardner. 
Pleased  to  get  your  returns  on  the  last  two  cases 
eggs;  you  made  me  take  the  tags  off  some  I  had  ready 
to  ship  another  house.  Tf  you  keep  this  up  you  will 
win.  Though  there  was  some  difference  of  a  few 
cents  in  favor  of  another  fellmv,  1  will  stand  that.  I 
’phoned  other  poultrymen  the  results  and  advised  their 
support.  You  have  a  hard  fight,  but  you  can’t  lose. 
I  know  what  I  am  talking  about,  for  I  spent  six  years 
as  salesman  in  the  commission  business  on  Washington 
Street.  s.  h.  purdie. 
Genoa.  N.  Y. 
On  Dec.  2nd  we  shipped  a  carload  of  Anjou  pears  to 
‘lie  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets.  They  were  re¬ 
ceived  and  attended  to  by  the  Department  promptly, 
and  check  and  sales  account  received  by  us  within  a 
week,  which  we  think  is  very  good  time  from  Western 
New  York  points,  going  by  freight.  They  were  packed 
in  two  grades.  No.  1  ami  No.  2,  and  sold  at  $3.80  and 
$2.80  respectively.  For  several  years  we  have  shipped 
our  Anjou  pears  to  Philadelphia  and  never  had  them 
sold  higher  than  $3  to  $3,50  for  best  grade.  This  year 
we.  shipped  to  three  different  markets  this  same  grade 
and  variety  of  pears,  and  the  average  net  returns  from 
all  these  other  shipments  were  not  quite  half  what 
the  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets  netted  us. 
We  are  putting  it  very  mild  when  we  say  we  are 
well  pleased  with  the  business  the  Department  has 
done  for  us.  We  shall  be  glad  to  ship  them  in  the 
future  any  products  from  our  orchards  or  farms  we 
may  have.  J.  D.  SHERMAN. 
'Castile,  N.  Y.  « 
At  our  Monday  morning  sale  last  week  we  had  fully 
150  buyers  anxious  to  get  apples.  The  receipts  to  the 
city  as  well  as  to  the  auction  were  light.  Later  in  the 
week  the  supply  was  larger  and  the  market  was  livelier. 
A  large  steady  supply  to  the  New  York  market  has  the 
effect  of  increasing  activity.  Dealers  have  been  holding 
hack  supplies  and  growers  seem  to  follow  the  dealers’ 
lead,  but  apples  must  soon  move  or  drag  heavily  at 
end  of  season.  One  dealer  sent,  a  car  to  the  auction 
last  week,  and  realized  a  good  price  for  the  grade  of 
goods.  Just  make  a  note  of  this;  Not  far  in  the  fu¬ 
ture  practically  all  apples  coming  to  New  York  will  be 
sold  at  auction.  Those  who  oppose  it  the  hardest  now 
are  the  ones  that  see  it.  coming. 
Here  is  record  of  three  days’  sale : 
APPLES— 10  bbls.  Baldwin  $2.60;  95  $2.55;  20 
2.20;  25  $2.15;  6  $2.40:  25  $2.35;  14  $2.30;  1  broken 
M.15;  1  $1.85 ;  8  $2.85;  4  Russet  $1.55;  2  Baldwin 
$1.70;  3  $2.35;  3  $1.60;  6  Maun  $2.80;  3  Baldwin 
$2.10;  5  Ben  Davis  $2;  11  Russet,  $2;  1  Ben  Davis 
$2:  2  boxes  Stayman  Winesup  75c;  2  Black  Twig  70c; 
2  Winesap  $1.20;  6  bbls.  Russet  $1.70;  4  Jonathan 
$2.60;  1  8pitz  $2.95;  7  $2.50;  1  $2;  8  Ilnbbardston 
$2.55;  2  Stark  $2.55 ;  1  King  $2.85;  5  Ilub- 
$2.15;  3  Baldwin  $2.25;  1  $1.60;  5  Spitz 
Baldwin  $3;  2  $2.50;  7  $2.40;  1  $2.85;  4 
$3.05;  4 
bnrdston 
$2.15;  2  .......  V 
$2.40;  1  $2.40;  1  Spy  $3;  1  Ben  Davis  $2.35  ;J1  bbls. 
King  $3.15;  15  $2.85;  1  $2.75;  21  Greening  $3.15;  9 
$3.20;  20  $2.05;  ,8  $2:  1  Baldwin  $3.15;  16  Greening 
$2.25;  13  $1.85;  3  Gilliflower  $2.05;  10  Newtown 
$2.60 :  4  B.*n  Davis  $1.85;  20  Baldwin  $2.40;  5  $2.20; 
3  Mann  $2.15;  2  $1.90;  4  Baldwin  $1.85;  4  Spy  $2.45; 
2  $2.05;  1  Greening  $2.20;  8  $3.25;  5  $2.05;  12  King 
$3.05;  2  GHliflnwer  $2.35:  22  Greening  $2.20;  8  Spy 
$2.35;  1  $2.50;  7  Spitz  $3.20;  35  Greening  $2.75;  9 
Baldwin  $3;  10  Pomeroy  $2.85;  7  $1.90. 
PEARS.— 10  bbls.  Kieffer  $1.50;  10  $1.05;  29  $1; 
3  95c;  10  boxes  Kieffer  SOe;  26  Lawrence  55o;  4,  45c; 
2  Bose  $1.70;  17  Clairgeau  $1.65;  S  S5c ;  2  bkts  Kief¬ 
fer  15c;  1  Lawrence  25c. 
VEGETABLES— 10  sacks  potatoes,  165  lbs.  each, 
$3.35;  67,  80  to  90  lbs.  each.  $1.30;  2  bbls.  washed 
carrots  $1 .45 ;  230  lbs.  beans  $9.30  cwt. ;  95  lbs.  $6.40 
cwt. 
l’ORK.— 2  pigs.  12S  lbs.,  12c;  1.  66  lbs..  lO^c; 
113  lbs..  1114c;  S,  371  lbs.,  12c;  4.  70  lbs.,  16c;  6,  94 
lbs..  131,4c ;  1,  20  lbs.,  lie;  1.  23  lbs.,  14c;  1  hog,  262 
ibs.,  8V>e:  7,  728  lbs.,  10c;  2,  242  lbs.,  7c;  901  lbs. 
8V2c. 
CALVES. — 1,  98  lbs..  16c;  1.  94  lbs.,  15c;  1,  123 
Jbs.,  13c;  1,  66  lbs.,  11c;  1,  92  lbs.,  16e. 
POULTRY.— 85  lbs.  fowls  19c;  50  lbs.  chickens  17c; 
75  lbs.  chickens  18c. 
BETTER.— 35  lbs.  butter  23c;  39  2Sc;  10  24c;  99 
lbs.  25c;  14  25c;  40  34c;  20  25c. 
EGGS. — About  150  cases  fresh  eggs  were  sold  at 
wholesale  under  the  supervision  of  the  Department  at 
prices  ranging  according  to  quality  from  30  to  38  cents. 
C/><?  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
Egg  producers  can  thank  the  Department  for  an  ad¬ 
vance  of  two  cents  in  the  quotation  of  eggs  the  past 
week.  The  Department  quoted  prices  at.  which  eggs 
actually  sold;  and  established  the  quotation  on  that 
basis.  The  custom  is  to  underquote  the  price  and  sell 
at  a  premium.  Dealers  are  now  receiving  Virginia 
and  Kentucky  eggs  and  selling  them  as  New  York  State 
eggs.  Their  profit  on  the  deception  is  about  20  per  cent. 
Backing  the  Foods  and  Markets 
Deprartment 
I  have  just  finished  reading  your  editorial.  “A  Hint 
and  Kick,”  on  page  160.  I  also  received  one  of  the 
marked  copies  of  the  American  Agriculturist  which  you 
speak  of.  Yesterday  I  returned  from  the  meetings  of 
the  Western  New  York  Horticultural  Society,  which 
meetings  I  have  attended  since  a  boy.  The  most  in¬ 
teresting  session  at  these  meetings  was  the  one  at  which 
Mr.  Dillon  spoke.  Every  farmer  and  fruit  grower  is 
vitally  interested  in  the  Department  of  Foods  and 
Markets.  One  of  the  easiest  things  in  this  world  to 
do  is  criticize,  YVe  all  know  that  this  is  in  its  infancy; 
we  know  that  Mr.  Dillon  is  sincere  in  his  efforts  to 
conduct  this  department  to  the  best  of  his  ability,  and 
for  the  best  interests  of  the  farmers  of  the  State  of 
New  York.  We  should  all  stand  by  Mr.  Dillon  and 
help  carry  this  thing  through. 
We,  as  farmers,  do  not  have  much  influence  at  Al¬ 
bany,  but  what  little  we  have  we  should  use,  to  see 
that  there  was  suitable  appropriation  made  for  this 
department  the  coming  year.  If  the  American  Agricul- 
urbit  had  a  representative  at  the  Western  New  York 
meetings  they  could  see  the  sentiment  of  the  producers 
of  this  section.  The  resolution  was  passed  unanimuos- 
ly.  Tell  us  who  we  want  to  get  at  with  a  postage 
stamp  at  Albany.  moktimek  a.  turpin. 
Wayne  Co.,  N.  Y. 
R.  N.-Y. — Farmers  have  more  influence  at  Albany 
than  they  imagine.  It  is  true  that  the  politicians  put 
up  a  bluff  and  say  they  do  not  care  what  the  farmers 
say — hut,  in  their  heart  they  know  better.  Just  as 
soon  as  they  understand  that  farmers  mean  business 
they  will  drop  their  bluff  and  come  running  to  help. 
Write  at  once  to  Governor  Whitman  at  Albany  and  to 
the  Senator  and  Representative  from  your  district,  and 
tell  them  clearly  what  you  tell  us — that  you  want  this 
department  to  have  a  fair  show  and  a  living  chance. 
Be  reasonable  and  fair — do  not  bluster  or  threaten, 
but  make  them  all  understand  that  you  mean  business. 
Another  Rochester  Resolution 
Resolutions  unanimously  adopted  at  the  convention 
of  the  Western  New  York  Horticultural  Society,  on 
January  28th,  in  the  city  of  Rochester. 
Whereas,  in  response  to  the  demands  that  have  been 
made  by  tbe  representatives  of  the  agricultural  organi¬ 
zations  of  the  State  of  New  York,  including  the  State 
Agricultural  Society,  the  State  Grange,  the  two  largest 
horticultural  societies  and  other  agricultural  organiza¬ 
tions  in  tbe  State  for  the  creation  of  a  department 
known  as  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets,  and 
Whereas,  such  department  was  created  by  the  Legis¬ 
lature  in  1915,  hut  without  providing  sufficient  money 
with  which  to  develop  efficiently  the  work  which  it  was 
created  to  do,  and 
Whereas,  in  order  to  make  this  Department  of  Foods 
and  Markets  of  the  value  to  the  producers  of  the  food 
products  of  the  State  and  to  the  equal  value  and  inter¬ 
ests  of  consumers  in  the  inauguration  of  better  and 
more  economical  methods  of  distribution  and  sale  of 
said  products,  and 
Whereas,  the  department  has  organized  a  system  of 
selling  fruits  and  vegetables  and  under  many  difficul¬ 
ties  has  undertaken  to  sell  hay  and  other  farm  pro¬ 
ducts  of  the  State  through  the  auction  system,  and 
Whereas,  in  order  that  the  farmers  and  fruit  grow¬ 
ers  of  the  State  may  have  their  products  more  largely 
sold  and  consumed  in  their  own  markets  in  their  own 
State,  the  best  in  the  world,  and 
Whereas,  in  order  to  accomplish  this  most  success¬ 
fully,  it  will  be  necessary  to  encourage  the  produ  ts 
of  the  State  to  organize  in  their  different  localities 
for  the  purpose  of  shipping  their  products  more  large¬ 
ly  in  carload  lots,  better  graded  and  packed,  to  the  bet¬ 
ter  standard  that  is  now  required  in  all  markets, 
Therefore,  be  it  resolved,  that  this  is  the  sentiment 
of  flic  members  of  the  Western  New  York  Horticul¬ 
tural  Society  that  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Mar¬ 
kets  be  not  only  continued  and  permanently  established, 
but  that  it  be  provided  adequately  with  such  appropria¬ 
tion  as  shall  enable  it  to  carry  out  the  work  for  which 
it  was  created  in  the  most  effective  manner  possible; 
And  be  it  further  resolved,  that  a  copy  of  this  resolu¬ 
tion  be  sent  to  the  Governor  of  the  State  and  to  the 
committees  of  agriculture  in  the  Senate  and  Assembly 
at  Albany. 
The  Mohawk  Valley  in  Line 
At  a  largely  attended  meeting  of  Herkimer  County 
Pomona  Grange  the  following  resolution  was  unani¬ 
mously  adopted.  The  producers  of  the  Mohawk  Valley 
are  with  us  for  better  conditions  along  this  line. 
Whereas  the  New  York  State  Department  of  Foods 
and  Markets  has  been  unjustly  assailed  from  many 
quarters  for  divers  reasons, 
Be  it.  resolved  that  Herkimer  County  Pomona  Grange 
believes  that  one  of  the  fundamental  essentials*  to  suc¬ 
cessful  efforts  on  the  farm,  is  the  marketing  of  agricul¬ 
tural  products,  ami  that  the  Department  of  Foods  and 
Markets,  if  given  fair  treatment,  will  continue  to  be 
of  increasing  benefit  to  the  farmers,  thus  enabling  them 
to  receive  more  than  35  cents  of  the  consumer’s  dollar. 
Frankfort,  N.  Y  .  E.  D.  f. 
“Licking  a  Postage  Stamp” 
Following  is  a  copy  of  letter  just  mailed  to  Ameri¬ 
can  Agriculturist.  I  thought  you  might  be  interested 
to  know  how  some  of  your  subscribers  feel  about  the 
matter.  Hope  many  others  feel  the  same  and  write 
to  them.  I  wish  you  every  success. 
“Editor,  American  Agriculturist, 
“Springfield,  Mass. 
“Kindly  discontinue  my  subscription  to  the  American 
Agriculturist  at  once.  Have  been  awaiting  the  ex¬ 
pression  of  the  Fruit  Growers’  Association  held  at 
Rochester,  N.  YT.  and  of  the  .State  Agricultural  Society 
at  Albany  before  writing  and  I  notice  they  both  thought 
rather  differently  from  you  in  regard  to  the  workings 
of  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets  and  of  Com¬ 
missioner  J.  .T.  Dillon.  T  wish  to  subscribe  for  and 
help  promote  the  farm  papers  that  boost  everything 
helpful  to  those  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  and 
not  those  in  league  with  corrupt  politicians  and  dishon¬ 
est  commission  men  to  promote  their  own  selfish  aims. 
Cuba,  N.  Y.  h.  g.  mc  e. 
A  City  Man  on  Apple  Prices 
I  used  to  read  your  paper  with  interest  when  I  was 
on  a  farm,  particularly  the  articles  about  the  35-cent 
dollar  that  tbe  farmer  has  handed  out  to  him.  Now  I 
am  at  the  dollar  end  of  the  line,  and  these  articles  are 
just  ns  interesting,  if  not  more  so,  because  I  am  pay¬ 
ing  out  the  dollar  and  getting  so  little  for  it.  For  ex 
ample,  I  am  very  fond  of  apples,  and  as  yet  I  have  not 
had  a  square  deal.  It  is  hard  in  my  part  of  the  city 
to  find  a  grocer  who  will  sell  more  than  a  quart  of 
apples  at  a  time.  These  quart  baskets  they  say  hold 
what  people  generally  want  to  buy,  and  the  price  is 
15  cents.  After  trying  four  or  five  places  I  said,  “O ! 
I  want  a  peek.”  “Well,  I  haven’t  a  peck  measure,  but 
I  will  sell  you  the  apples ;  see,  there  are  eight  quarts 
in  a  peck,  I  will  let  you  have  eight  quarts  for  $1.20.” 
I  stopped  to  reckon  up  what  a  barrel  would  cost  at 
the  same  rate;  $12  a  barrel.  Two  months  ago  neigh¬ 
bors  were  selling  as  good  apples  from  their  New  Hamp¬ 
shire  farms  for  $2.50  a  barrel.  I  said,  “No  thank  you,” 
and  passed  on. 
At  another  store  I  asked  the  price  of  apples.  “Fif¬ 
teen  cents  a  basket.”  “Yes,  but  I  want  a  peck."  “I’ll 
let  you  have  a  peck  for  40  cents,  that  is  throwing  off 
10  cents.”  “How  is  that,  a  peck  is  eight  quarts.” 
“Well,  I  will  let  you  have  them  for  40  cents.”  “I  will 
take  them  if  they  are  good  eating  apples.”  “They  are 
Baldwins.”  He  reached  for  a  paper  bag.  I  said : 
“That  will  not  hold  a  peck,  that  will  not  hold  over 
four  quarts.  Haven’t  yon  a  peck  measure."  “O  yes 
that  will  bold  a  peck;  1  have  no  measure.”  “I  know 
that  paper  bag  will  not  hold  over  four  quarts.  I  have 
raised  and  sold  apples  and  1  know  what  I  am  talking 
about,  but  1  will  take  that  bag  full  for  40  cents.”  I 
was  apple  hungry.  When  the  apples  reached  the  house 
there  were  20  of  them  fair  size  and  medium  quality  for 
40  cents.  That  was  at  the  rate  of  .$8  per  barrel. 
I  think  an  order  for  a  .bushel  of  apples  would  result 
in  the  calling  of  a  policeman  with  the  Claim  I  was 
crazy.  I  am  going  to  watch  advt.  columns  and  see 
what  can  be  had  by  parcel  post.  h.  w.  d. 
New  York  City. 
R.  N.-Y. — Thousands  of  people  in  this  great  city  will 
give  similar  testimony.  Many  of  our  country  readers 
di.  not  fully  understand  how  the  retail  business  is  con- 
dneted  here.  If  they  knew  all  about  the  distribution  of 
city  food  they  would  realize  what  a  desperate  fight  the 
useless  handlers  are  making  against  the  Foods  and 
Markets  Department  Sometimes  when  we  say  that  a 
reform  in  distribution  would  mean  better  prices  to 
farmers  and  cheaper  prices  to  consumers  our  readers 
cannot  see  how  such  a  combination  could  bo  possible. 
A  study  of  H.  W.  D.’s  statement  makes  this  point 
clear.  He  and  others  are  quite  willing  to  pay  a  fair 
price  for  apples  and  would  eat  twice  as  many  as  they 
now  do  if  they  were  free  to  buy  as  they  desired.  The 
cost  of  the  present  distribution  is  excessive  and  is  sad¬ 
dled  upon  both  consumer  and  producer.  Parcels  post 
offers  but  a  partial  solution  of  the  problem  as  perish¬ 
able  products  like  fruit  and  eggs  do  not  carry  well. 
The  way  to  serve  these  city  people  properly  is  to  have  a 
system  of  retail  stores  under  control  of  producers  where 
farm  products  may  be  sent  properly  graded  and  sold 
direct  to  consumers  with  half  a  dozen  handler’s  profits 
cut  out. 
Decrease  in  Exports 
The  Government  report  for  December  and  the  12 
months  then  ending  states  that  there  was  a  considerable 
reduction  in  the  exports  of  corn,  wheat,  canned  beef 
and  lard  compounds  and  a  slight  reduction  in  the  ex¬ 
ports  of  flour,  pickled  beef  and  illuminating  oil.  For 
the  month  there  was  considerable  increase  in  exports 
of  fresh  beef,  oleo  oil.  bacon,  hams  and  shoulders,  lard, 
pickled  pork,  crude  oil,  lubricating  oil  and  gasoline, 
naphtha,  etc.  There  was  a  slight  increase  in  the  De¬ 
cember  exports  of  oats  and  residum,  fuel  oil,  etc.  The 
following  statement  of  the  exports  by  groups  is  stated 
in  thousands: 
December.  12  mouths  ending  Deo. 
1915. 
1914. 
1915. 
1914. 
Breads  tuffs  ... 
.  .$33,158 
$55,859 
$510,582 
$300,309 
C,  s.  oil,  lbs... 
..  27.275 
37.837 
350.409 
216.727 
C.  s.  oil . 
..  $2,167 
$2,331 
$25,073 
$14,635 
tattle,  bogs  and 
sheep  . . . . . 
$35 
$8 
$2,669 
$S79 
Meats  and  dan-y 
products  . . . 
..$24,024 
$12,211 
$250,033 
$128,28.3 
Cotton,  bales. . 
558 
1,202 
8,358 
6.320 
Cotton,  lbs.... 
..291,082 
629,021 
4,362,160 
3.285.380 
Cotton  . 
.  .$35,095 
$49,350 
8417,005 
$343,898 
Min.  oils,  gals. 
.  .184,712 
166,860 
2,309,760 
2.224,250 
Min.  oils. . . . .. 
..$11,959 
$9,437 
$141,004 
$138,381 
Total  . 
.$106,441 
$129,199  $1,346,368 
$926,387 
Government  Crop  Report 
1915. 
Corn,  bn .  3,054,535,000 
Winter  wheat,  bu .  655.015.000 
Spring  wheat,  bu .  .’156,460.000 
All  wheat,  bu .  1,011.505,000 
Oats,  bu .  1,540,362.000 
Barley,  bu .  237,009,000 
Rye,  bu .  49.190.000 
Buckwheat,  bu .  15,769.000 
Potatoes,  bu .  359,103.000 
Hay,  tons  .  85,225.000 
Apples,  bbls .  76,670.000 
Crauberries,  bbls.  .  457.000 
Beans,  bu .  9.325.000 
Wool,  lbs .  288,777,000 
1914. 
2,672.804.000 
684,990,000 
206,027,000 
891.017.000 
1,141,060,000 
194.953.000 
42,779.000 
16,881.000 
409,921,000 
70,071,000 
84.400,01X1 
644,000 
11,013.000 
290,192,000 
