Cy><?  RURAL  N  tl  W  -YORKER 
889 
Notes  from  Department  of  Foods  and 
Markets 
204  Franklin  St.,  New  York  City 
The  report  of  the  exact  sales  in  the  auction  market 
indicates  rather  a  wide  variation  in  the  quality  of 
goods.  Two  crates  of  eggs  sold  at  21c  and  24  crates 
at  27c  a  dozen.  Butter  ranges  from  2214c  to  21114c. 
The  range  in  perishable  vegetables  like  asparagus  is 
from  $1  to  $2.75,  and  indicates  clearly  the  quality  of 
the  goods  and  the  method  of  packing.  The  attractive 
package  always  commands  the  host  price. 
Last  week  the  strawberry  market  was  particularly 
discouraging.  They  came  largely  from  the  South  and 
many  of  them,  the  tail  cud  of  the  picking.  The  weath¬ 
er  was  wet,  the  berries  mostly  soft  and  prices  low.  The 
range  in  our  quotation  was  from  14c  down  as  low  as 
4c.  This,  was  the  general  condition  of  the  market 
throughout,  the  city. 
California  cherries  have  continued  to  bring  good 
prices.  These  are  all  sold  at  auction  and  are  corning 
in  carload  lots  in  sufficient  volume  to  make  a  general 
market.  The  high  prices  run  from  $1.80  per  box  of 
from  7  to  8  pounds  for  whites,  to  $2.10  for  black.  Some 
showing  soft  and  irregular  berries  and  indicating  gener¬ 
ally  a  more  careless  pack,  have  sold  as  low  as  $1.  All 
over  the  streets  on  small  stands  and  on  push-carts, 
these  cherries  were  sold  last  week  at  three  for  le.  The 
prices  ruled  from  15e  to  20c  a  box  higher  than  the 
previous  week.  The  California  crop  is  short  and  this 
lias  kept  the  price  high,  ranging  close  to  30c  a  pound 
Last  year  a  better  quality  of  cherry  in  Western  New 
York  sold  to  runners  at  tc  a  pound.  Reports  from 
Western  New  York  now  state  that  cherries  have  been 
damaged  and  in  some  sections  there  will  be  little  or  no 
picking.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  Hudson  River  and 
central  sections,  there  is  a  promise  of  a  good  crop  and 
at  this  lime,  good  quality.  State  growers  are  indicat¬ 
ing  groat  interest  in  the  Department’s  efforts  to  create 
a  New  York  City  market  for  these  cherries  and  other 
small  fruits.  The  New  York  market  1ms  been,  to  a 
large  extent,  neglected  by  State  growers.  The  problem 
now  is  to  develop  the  market  and  get  the  advantage 
of  this  trade  for  fresh,  ripe  cherries.  This  cannot  be 
done  by  an  occasional  shipment  of  a  crate  or  two. 
There  is  a  large  army  of  distributors  ready  to  dis¬ 
tribute  fruits.  They  will  take  hold  of  the  job  if  we 
can  give  them  a  good  volume  and  steady  supply.  While 
no  one  can  predict  what  the  prices  will  be  at  this  time, 
the  indications  are  for  good  prices.  Of  course  no 
dealer,  no  matter  what  his  pretensions,  can  make  a 
demand  or  establish  a  high  price.  A  dealer  may  es¬ 
tablish  a  low  price  and  a  low  quotation,  but  the  gen¬ 
eral  demand  and  the  buyers  set  the  high  level  of  prices, 
and  this  ran  he  reached  in  the  auction  sales  Cor  perish¬ 
able  fruit  more  effectively  than  in  any  other  •way. 
While  no  one  can  accurately  predict  prices  in  advance, 
the  indications  now  are  that  if  New  York  growers  ship 
their  cherries  and  strawberries  and  small  fruit  gener¬ 
ally  in  good  quantities  and  in  good  condition  to  the 
auction  market,  they  will  get  good  returns  for  good 
fruit  this  year. 
To  answer  many  questions  that  were  asked  in  the 
mail,  the  suggestion  would  be  for  this  year,  to  ship  pre¬ 
ferably  in  new  quart  baskets,  packed  in  32-quart  “gift” 
crates.  The  season  will  soon  he  on  for  the  State  ship¬ 
pers.  The  Department  has  everything  ready  to  do  its 
part  in  advertising  the  goods  and  assemblying  buyers, 
and  is  in  every  way  ready  to  sell  for  growers  who  want 
the  service. 
Summary  of  sales  of  miscellaneous  farm  products 
during  the  week  ending  .Tune  8th.  1016: 
EGOS. 
11  doz.  duck  eggs  . 
54  crates  . 
12  crates  . 
70  orates  . 
52  crates  . 
174  crates  . . 
11  crates  . 
10  crates  . 
3  crates  . 
2  crates  . 
.$0.28 
.  .27 
.  .2614 
.  .26 
.  .25% 
.  .25 
•  -24% 
.  .24 
500  crates. 
FRUIT. 
8  32-quart  crates  strawberries,  qt . $0.07 
2  32 -quart  crates  strawberries . 07 
3  48-quart  crates  strawberries . OS 
1  32-quart  crates  cherries . 07% 
1  51-quart  crates  strawberries . 11 
15  32  quart  crates  strawberries  . 00 
3  52 -quart  crates  strawberries  . 07 
14  32-qoart  crates  strawberries . 00 
11  32-quart,  crates  strawberries . 08 
5  32-quart  crates  strawberries . 00 
13  32-quart  crates  strawberries . 04 
30  boxes  peaches  . 00 
40  lbs. 
72  lbs. 
35  lbs. 
50  lbs. 
20  lbs. 
40  lbs. 
10  lbs. 
20  lbs. 
20  lbs. 
35  lbs. 
60  lbs. 
56  lbs. 
20  lbs. 
IS  lbs. 
20  lbs. 
10  lbs. 
40  lbs. 
20  lbs. 
$0.25 
.27 
.27 
.23 
•27% 
.24% 
.25 
.22% 
.22  % 
.27 
.22% 
.28  “ 
.27 
.20 
.25 
•22% 
.22% 
.22% 
20  lbs . 27 
20  lbs . 28 
02  lbs . 26 
30  lbs . 26 
32  lbs . 27 
0%  lbs . 24% 
05  lbs . 20 
01  lbs . 20% 
20  lbs . 27 
30  lbs . 27 
40  lbs . 20 
12  lbs . 20 
40  lbs . 24% 
36  lbs . 20 
vb9etaht.es. 
5  baskets  asparagus  . $4.75 
1  bag  beans,  101  lbs . . 00% 
23  bags  potatoes,  bag .  3.05 
2  bags  potatoes,  bag .  3.00 
17  bags  potatoes,  bag .  3.85 
23  bags  potatoes,  bag .  5.00 
3  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  1.00 
2%  do*,  bunches  asparagus  .  1.00 
1  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  L00 
4%  doz.  hunches  asparagus  .  .75 
2  ~  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  2.00 
2  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  2.75 
2  doz.  hunches  asparagus  . .  2.00 
1  crate  asparagus  .  2.50 
1  crate  asparagus  . . .  2.00 
2  crates  asparagus,  crate  „ .  2.25 
1  doz.  bunches  aspuragus  .  2.00 
2  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  2.50 
3%  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  1.50 
2  doz.  bunches  asparagus  .  1.25 
1  box  asparagus  .  1.25 
ultbssi, )  meats. 
1  calf. 
1  calf. 
1  calf, 
1  calf. 
Liver, 
1  calf, 
Liver, 
1  calf, 
Liver, 
Liver, 
07  lbs.  . 
130  lbs. 
08  lbs.  . 
110  lbs.  . 
bead.  etc. 
oo  lbs.  • 
head.  etc. 
103  lbs. 
head.  etc. 
head.  etc. 
$0.10 
.10 
.14% 
.15 
.05 
.17 
.55 
.10% 
.50 
.05 
POULTRY. 
lbs.  fowl  . $0.21 
lbs.  broilers  and  squabs . 52 
sqtmbs  .  1.75 
lbs.  chickens  . 30 
lbs.  fowl  . 21 
lbs.  chicks  . . 30 
lbs.  chicks  . . . 30 
lbs.  chicks  . 30 
lbs.  chirks  . 30 
lbs.  poultry  . 30 
lbs.  chickens  . 32 
lbs.  chicks  . 30 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
16  lbs.  maple  sugar 
.  $0.12 
Collecting  Overcharge 
“I  have  received  check  for  $2  as  a  refund  on  ship¬ 
ment  of  apples  made  on  March  7th  last.  I  assure  you 
that  your  efforts  in  the  matter  are  appreciated.  Judg¬ 
ing  by  results  you  obtained,  the  railroad  and  express 
Companies  take  more  notice  of  your  Department  than  of 
an  individual  in  these  matters.  Am  glad  to  note  that 
you  have  been  successful  in  your  efforts  to  maintain  the 
Department  and  l  trust  now  it.  has  become  a  perman¬ 
ent  feature  of  the  State  Government.” 
This  $2  was  a  rebate  fur  an  overcharge  on  a  ship¬ 
ment  by  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  Co.  Tt  took 
nearly  three  months  to  get  the  overcharge  returned  and 
iu  the  hands  Of  the  shipper.  The  average  shipper 
would  rather  lose  the  $2  than  pursue  the  claim  over 
so  much  time  and  with  so  much  correspondence,  but 
one  of  the  things  that  the  Department  was  organ¬ 
ized  for  was  the  protection  of  shippers  in  just  such 
cases,  and  we  hope  that  it  may  yet  find  a  way  to  make 
overcharges  less  frequent  and  settlements  more  prompt. 
gave  the  labor  of  picking  and  storing,  and  the  expense 
of  storage  space  and  took  all  the  risk  on  the  crop.  He 
packed  them  and  hauled  them  to  the  station  for  noth¬ 
ing  and  then  had  handed  out  to  him  30  per  cent,  of 
the  wholesale  price  of  the  apples.  And  still  we  wonder 
why  our  boys  turn  their  faces  toward  the  cities,  why 
farming  is  not  popular  with  the  rising  generation.  How 
long  must  these,  things  be?  n.  WALKER  MC  KEEN. 
Maine. 
R.  N.-Y. — And  the  final  consumer  paid  about  twice 
the  wholesale  price.  These  things  will  continue  to  be 
until  people  wake  up  and  get  over  the  idea  that  such 
cases  are  “the  vain  repetition  of  an  economic  fallacy.” 
Carload  Rates  on  Peaches 
In  my  statement  covering  the  peach  situation  with 
regard  to  freight  rates,  which  was  published  on  page 
781,  I  neglected  to  include  the  table  of  rates  show¬ 
ing  just  wlmt  the  various  rates  are,  and  what  the  sav¬ 
ing  would  he  if  the  railroad  companies  granted  our  ap¬ 
plication,  which  wo  presented  to  the  Official  Classifi¬ 
cation  Board  on  March  22,  1016  and  concerning  which 
we  have  heard  nothing  up  to  this  time,  although  we 
asked  for  a  prompt  decision.  For  the  information  of 
those  unfamiliar  with  the  various  freight  rates  to 
which  I  have  referred,  the  following  table  will  be  of 
assistance : 
First  class  . 
Second  class  . 
Third  class  . 
Fourth  class  . 
Fifth  class  . 
Sixth  class  . . . 
.$0.42  per  cwt. 
.357  per  cwt. 
.294  per  cwt. 
.  .221  per  cwt. 
.  .170  per  cwt. 
.147  per  cwt. 
If  our  application  is  granted  by  the  railroads,  peach¬ 
es  will  be  made  third  class  in  car  lots  and  first  class  in 
less  than  car  lots.  This  would  mean  a  saving  of  $25 
per  car  of  20.000  lbs.  and  $20  per  car  of  10,000  lbs., 
and  in  less  than  car  lots  the  rate  would  he  42  cents 
pei1  hundred  pounds  instead  of  05  cents  per  hundred 
pounds  as  at  present. 
It.  may  as  well  he  understood  that  in  case  nothing 
shall  come  from  the  hearing  above  referred  to.  and  our 
application  is  turned  down  by  the  railroads,  the  mat¬ 
ter  will  not  be  dropped  by  the  growers.  We  know  that 
we  are  absolutely  right,  that  our  request  for  relief  is 
just,  and  we  shall  not  give  up  the  fight  for  decent 
treatment  until  we  have  secured  the  consideration  and 
concessions  to  which  we  are  fairly  entitled.  The  Can¬ 
adian  growers  are  allowed  a  rate  of  fourth  class  on 
car  lots;  second  class  on  10,000  lbs.,  and  first  class  on 
less  than  10.000  lbs.  There  is  no  good  reason  why 
New  York  growers  should  not  be  treated  as  liberally, 
but  we  have  not  asked  for  any  such  consideration.  We 
have  been  very  modest  and  considerate  iu  our  demands. 
s.  J.  T.  BUSH. 
Government  Crop  Report 
The  Department  of  Agriculture  June  statement  of 
crop  outlook  is  as  follows: 
AREA.  EST.  YIELD 
Winter  wheat  .  37.250.000  460.000.000 
Spring  wheat  .  17.851.000  240,000,000 
All  wheat  .  55,107,000  715.000,000 
Oats  .  40.599.000  1.250.000,000 
The  estimate  fur  both  wheat  and  oats  is  about  300,- 
000.000  below  last  year's  yield.  Percentages  compared 
with  a  full  yield  are:  Winter  wheat  73.2:  Spring 
wheat  88.2;  oats  NO. 9:  rye  80.9;  barley  SO. 3;  hay  90.5: 
apples  70.  which  is  5.9  above  last  year  and  10.1  above 
the  10-year  average:  poaches  55.4.  or  20.5  below  last 
year,  and  5.4  under  10-year  average. 
That  35-cent  Dollar 
Too  much  praise  cannot  be  given  the  strong,  manly 
and  consistent  fight  The  U.  N.-Y.  is  making  for  the 
farmers’  interests.  Such  labor  must  have  its  reward, 
and  the  time  shall  come  when  there  will  be  a  proper 
division  of  labor  and  profits.  May  that  time  be  has¬ 
tened.  and  may  it  arrive  before  the  brightest  and  best 
of  the  country  life  is  driven  to  other  pursuits  and  more 
farms  are  left  vacant. 
There  came  to  my  desk  a  few  nights  ago  a  letter  from 
a  Maine  farmer  outlining  his  troubles  in  getting  a 
square  deal  iu  the  markets,  and  although  his  losses 
were  small,  as  looked  upon  by  those  who  are  accus¬ 
tomed  to  deal  iu  large  figures,  they  were  large  to  him 
and  as  the  farm  units  of  most  of  the  country  are  small, 
they  are  worthy  the  attention  of  all  who  have  ears  to 
hear  appeals  for  justice,  and  hearts  that  move  in  sym¬ 
pathy  for  those  who  are  being  wronged.  This  farmer 
sent  seven  barrels  of  apples  to  a  commission  house  in 
Boston,  with  the  following  results  as  shown  by  the 
account  of  sales : 
April  21,  7  barrels  of  apples,  $1.25 . $8.75  $8.75 
Charges— Freight  .  2.03 
Carting  .  42 
Commission  . ’  1.40  3.85 
Net  proceeds . . .  $4.90 
Check  to  balance . $4.90 
T’ne  farmer  paid  25c  each  for  the  barrels.  1.75 
It  took  him  better  than  a  linlf-day  to  pack 
the  apples . 1.00 
It  took  him  one-half  day  with  team  to 
haul  them  to  station .  2.00  4.75 
Net  returns  for  apples,  picked  and  stored  $  .15 
Returns  per  barrel . 0214 
Leaving  out  of  account  the  cost  of  packing  and  ship¬ 
ping,  the  farmer  got  50  per  cent,  of  the  wholesale 
price  of  the  apples,  or  in  other  words  he  gave  the  bar¬ 
rels  and  got  50  per  cent,  of  the  wholesale  price.  The 
railroads  got  23  per  cent,  and  the  commission  house 
got  10  per  cent.  This  appears  to  me  to  he  a  very  un¬ 
fair  division  of  labor.  The  farmer  furnished  the  land, 
the  capital  and  waited  six  months  for  his  share,  lie 
New  York  Farm  Bureau  Agents 
Organized  farm  bureaus  in  New  York  State,  M.  C. 
Burritt.  State  Director.  Ithaca ;  H.  E.  Babcock.  Asst. 
State  Director.  Ithaca. 
Albany — II.  E.  Crouch.  Dept.  Agriculture.  Albany. 
Allegany — F.  C.  Smith.  Belmont. 
Broome — J.  F.  Eastman,  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
Binghamton. 
Cattaraugus — IT.  Iv.  Crofoot.  Oieau. 
Cayuga — ,T.  R.  Ten  11.  Auburn. 
Chautauqua — II.  B.  Rogers,  Chautauqua. 
Chemung — M.  E.  Chubbuek.  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
Elmira. 
Chenango  -E.  P.  Smith.  Norwich. 
Clinton  -C.  B.  Tillson,  Plattsburgh. 
Cortland — E.  II.  Eorristall,  Cortland. 
Delaware — E.  R.  Eastman.  Walton. 
Dutchess — F.  IT.  Lacy.  Poughkeepsie. 
Erie — W.  L.  Markham.  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
Buffalo. 
Essex  .T.  H.  Phillips,  Essex. 
Franklin — C.  If.  Austin.  Malone. 
Herkimer — C.  A.  Taylor,  Herkimer. 
Jefferson  F.  E.  Robertson.  atertown. 
Monroe — L.  A.  Toati,  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
Rochester. 
Montgomery— A.  S.  Merchant.  Canajoharie. 
Nassau — T.  M.  Avery,  Mineola. 
Niagara  N.  R.  Peot.  Lockport. 
Oneida  O.  E.  Ross.  Chamber  of  Commerce,  T’tica. 
Onondaga — S.  A.  Martin,  112  Court  House,  Syra¬ 
cuse. 
Orange — T.  E.  Milliman,  Middletown. 
Oswego — E.  V.  Underwood.  Oswego. 
Otsego — F.  S.  Barlow,  Cooperstown. 
St.  Lawrence-  C.  S.  Phelps.  Canton. 
Saratoga  A.  M.  Hollister,  Saratoga  Springs. 
Schoharie—  R.  V  Pollard.  Cnbleskill. 
Sullivan  J.  A  Richardson.  Liberty. 
Tioga  E.  It.  Zimmer.  Owego. 
Tompkins — V.  B.  Blatehley,  Ithaca. 
Ulster — W.  11.  Hook.  Kingston. 
Warren — E.  W.  Cleeves.  Warrensburg. 
Westchester — J.  (!.  Curtis,  Chamber  of  Commerce, 
White  Plains. 
Wyoming — II.  M.  Bowen.  Warsaw. 
