&/>e  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
985 
Notes  from  Department  of  Foods  and 
Markets 
204  Franklin  St.,  New  York  City 
The  Jacobs  Bros.  Case 
Recently  we  reported  a  request  to  the  State  "Depart¬ 
ment  of  Agriculture  for  the  cancellation  of  the  license 
to  do  a  commission  merchant  business  of  Jacobs  Bros., 
Inc.,  of  West  "Washington  Market.  One  of  the  reasons 
for  the  complaint  was  that  Jacobs  Bros,  were  previously 
doing  business  as  a  firm,  and  had  contracted  a  debt  of 
nearly  $.'1,000  with  (!.  Z.  Hawk  &  Son  Co.,  that  this  in¬ 
debtedness  has  been  put  in  the  form  of  a  judgment,  and 
that  Jacobs  Bros,  incorporated  with  the  intention  of  de¬ 
frauding  the  Hawk  firm.  If  a  concern  like  Hawk  & 
Son,  doing  business  in  New  York  City,  are  not  able  to 
protect  themselves  against  Jacobs  Bros,  in  a  transac¬ 
tion,  it  would  seem  thal  (In1  farmer  living  hundreds  of 
miles  out.  of  the  city  would  have  a  poor  chance  of  pro¬ 
tecting  his  interest  witli  the  same  concern-  "When, 
however,  Mr.  William  Jacobs,  of  Jacobs  Bros.,  discov¬ 
ered  that  an  application  was  made  to  vacate  his  license 
and  he  was  called  in  supplementary  proceedings  to  give 
an  account  of  his  financial  standing,  lie  evidently  begun 
to  feel  that  a  different  policy  would  be  to  his  best  in¬ 
terests.  and  he  has  since  settled  his  account  with  G.  Z. 
Hawk  &  Son  Co.  The  settlement,  however,  is  no  reason 
why  Jacobs  Bros,  should  enjoy  a  license  from  the  De¬ 
partment  of  Agriculture  to  do  a  commission  business. 
If  there  was  any  reason  in  the  world  for  the  law  re¬ 
quiring  a  license  for  commission  dealers,  it  was  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  such  men  as  Jacobs  Bros,  out  of  the 
business.  The  Department  of  Agriculture  yet  has  the 
matter  under  advisement,  and  it  is  hardly  conceivable 
that  the  license  will  be  renewed. 
Small  Fruit  Conditions  Bad 
The  small  fruit  trade  has  been  something  of  a  dis¬ 
appointment  this  year  both  at  the  producing  and  at 
the  distributing  ends.  The  prolonged  wet  weather  has 
caused  a  loss  in  the  fields  and  the  fruit  arrives  more 
or  less  soft,  so  that  the  losses  in  distribution  are  heavy. 
Careful  observation  throughout  the  distributing  sec¬ 
tions  seems  fully  to  justify  the  complaint  of  distributors. 
The  city  supply  has  not  been  large  aud  has  not  been 
normal-  It  is  indeed  small,  and  if  the  fruit  was  aver¬ 
aging  fair  or  normal,  prices  would  be  high.  An  occa¬ 
sional  shipment  coming  in,  showing  fancy  marks,  does 
bring  high  prices,  but  as  a  rule  the  prices  are  low  and 
discouraging. 
Delays  in  delivery  by  the  transportation  companies 
and  express  companies  is  another  cause,  of  loss  to  the 
shipper.  This  is  always  a  source  of  loss,  but  this  year, 
when  so  much  fruit  is  arriving  soft,  the  loss  is  more 
than  usual.  The  best  trade  for  this  small  perishable 
fruit  is  early  in  the  morning,  and  when  fruit  that 
ought  to  arrive  in  the  city  by  midnight  comes  strag- 
ling  along  from  nine  to  ten,  and  sometimes  as  late  as 
noon,  the  market  is  move  or  less  over  and  it  is  impossible 
to  sell  the  fruit  on  the  day  of  arrival  at  a  fair  price  for 
the  day.  Little  of  this  fruit  is  in  condition  to  be  hold 
over  for  the  next  morning’s  trade  and  the  salesman  has 
a  choice  of  disposing  of  it  for  what  he  can  get.  or  taking 
a  chance,  of  a  total  loss  by  holding  it  over. 
Trainloads  of  fruit  come  from  California  and  other 
far  Western  States,  and  are  delivered  in  New  York  with 
the  regularity  of  a  clock.  Receivers  know  just  when  to 
expect  it  aud  are  not  disappointed.  They  are  able  to 
advertise  their  sales  in  advance  aud  make  prompt  sales 
on  the  arrival  of  the  goods.  There  is  uo  such  regu¬ 
larity  in  the  receipt  of  local  shipments.  There  is  in 
fact  no  regular  system  of  distribution  of  Ibis  State 
fruit.  If  comes  when  the  transportation  company  finds 
it  convenient  to  deliver  it.  and  losses  to  the  growers  are 
enormous,  and  unless  a  better  system  is  devised  for  the 
delivery  of  this  perishable  fruit  in  New  York,  the  pros¬ 
pects  for  the  grower  of  it  are  not  encouraging. 
The  range  of  prices  in  the  Department  sales  last 
week  were  as  follows: 
Summer  Outing  for  Fruit  Growers 
The  New  York  State  Fruit  Growers’  Association  is 
planning  for  a  fine  Summer  meeting  and  excursion  for 
August  2d.  3d  and  4th.  This  year  the  association  will 
travel  up  and  down  the  Hudson  Valley,  looking  over 
famous  orchards  and  other  objects  of  interest.  The 
whole  party  will  meet  at  Albany  on  Wednesday  morn¬ 
ing,  August  2d,  at  7 :45.  The  place  of  meeting  is  the 
offiee  of  the  Albany  Southern  Railroad,  State  Street 
and  Broadway.  There  will  not  be  a  special  train  at 
Rochester  as  in  former  years,  but  parties  can  leave 
Rochester  on  the  Empire  State  Express  at.  2:24  I‘.  M., 
read  dug  Albany  Tuesday  night  or  Wednesday  morning. 
The  route  will  run  from  Albany  to  Kimlerhook.  At 
that  place  the  entire  party  will  be  taken  in  automobiles 
and  carried  through  the  country  to  various  objects  of 
interest.  At  noon  a  basket  picnic  will  be  served  at 
the  home  of  W.  S.  Teator  at  Red  Hook.  After  swing¬ 
ing  about  the  Eastern  side  of  the  river,  Wednesday 
night  will  be  passed  in  Poughkeepsie.  The  next  day 
a  trip  will  be  made  down  the  west  shore  through  High¬ 
land,  Milton  and  Marlboro  on  to  Newburgh.  The 
party  will  then  pass  on  up  the  river  to  Kingston,  where 
Thursday  night  will  he  passed.  A  most,  excellent  trip 
has  been  blocked  out,  and  if  the  weather  should  prove 
fair  there  ought  to  be  a  fine  time.  A  good  many  mem¬ 
bers  will  probably  take  the  entire  trip  in  their  own 
curs,  and  a  full  route  lias  been  blocked  out  for  them. 
For  full  particulars  address  Secretary  E.  ('.  Gillette,  at 
Penn  Yan.  N.  Y.  In  any  event,  do  not  fail  to  notify 
Mr.  Gillette  not  later  than  July  20  whether  you  are 
coining  by  rail  or  iu  your  own  car,  aud  other  particu¬ 
lars  about  your  trip.  There  ought  to  he  a  large  turn¬ 
out  of  members  for  this  visit.  The  local  attendance 
will  be  heavy,  aud  the  Western  New  York  men  ought 
to  know  more  about  the  Hudson  Valley. 
HIIIMimHmiMIIIMMIIIIIimMlirMlllMI'tlMIIMMUMMIMMlimMPIMIIIIMMIlMIIIIM.’mmiltMMUIIItMIIIIIHtllMO  O' 011111111111111111111111111111111. 
Prof.  Alva  Agee 
Secretary  of  the  New  Jersey  Board  of  Agriculture 
iiiiiiipimiiMiiiuiiittiimtiiiiiiiiimiiiiipiimiMmiiiiiiiiiiimiiniiiiiiimmiiimimimiiiimmiimmiiiiiiiiiiioiimuitUDiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiii 
118  lbs.  fowl  . 1914 
448  lbs.  fowl  . 19 
48s  lbs.  fowl  . 18 M: 
88  lbs.  fowl  . 18 
1142  lbs. 
19  lbs.  ducks  . 10 
17  lbs.  roosters  . 14 
40  lbs.  turkeys  . 15 
4  squabs  . 75 
Summary  of  sales  of  miscellaneous  farm  products 
during  the  week  ending  July  6th,  1916: 
EGGS. 
1  case  duck  eggs  . $0.31 
2  cases  duck  eggs  . 30 
37  cases  . 31 
1  case  . 31% 
3  cases  . 30% 
18  cases  . .  .30 
4  cases  . 29% 
20  cases  . 29  *1. 
4  cases  . 28  % 
24  cases  . 28 
12  cases  . 27% 
58  cases  . . 27 
7  cases  . 26% 
3  eases  . . . 26 
1  case  . 24 
1  case  . 23% 
2  cases  (small)  . 23 
198  cases 
POULTRY. 
117  lbs.  broilers  . $0.30 
161  lbs.  broilers  . 28 
135  lbs.  broilers  . 27 
851  lbs.  broilers  . 26 
182  lbs.  broilers  . 25 
234  lbs.  broilers  . 24 
129  lbs.  broilers  . 23 
79  lbs.  broilers  . 20 
BUTTER. 
121  lbs . $0.25 
138  lbs . 23% 
259  lbs. 
MTSCEI.LA  XEOUS. 
143  lbs.  wool  . $0.28 
DRE8SE0  MEATS. 
1  dressed  calf.  131  lbs . $0.17% 
1  dressed  calf,  125  lbs . 16% 
1  dressed  calf,  99  lbs . 18 
I  aver  . . 40 
1  dressed  call',  86  lbs . 17% 
2  dressed  calves.  220  lbs . . . 16% 
1  dressed  calf,  103  lbs . IS 
1  dressed  calf,  88  lbs . 18 
1  dressed  calf,  99  lbs.  . 18% 
9  dressed  calves. 
FRUITS. 
1  crate  strawberries  . $1.00 
1  crate  strawberries  .  1.00 
1  crate  strawberries  .  1.25 
2  crates  strawberries  .  2.00 
5  crates. 
152  qts.  strawberries  . 12 
32  qts.  strawberries  . 11 
32  qts.  strawberries  . 10% 
832  qts.  strawberries  . 10 
612  qts.  strawberries  . 09 
704  qts.  strawberries  . 08 
640  qts.  strawberries  . 07 
576  qts. 
152  qts. 
896  qts. 
32  qts. 
Strawberries 
strawberries 
strawberries 
strawberries 
.06  7 
.0->% 
.05 
6(5  qts.  strawberries  . 
.  . . . 
. 04 
4756  qts. 
1  box  cherries  . 
,  1  25 
1.  32-qt.  crate  cherries  .  .  . 
29%  lbs.  cherries  . 
1  crate  cherries  . 
,  .  .  . 
. 08 
no 
18  baskets  cherries  . 
1  basket  cherries  . 
4  baskets  cherries  . 
7  baskets  cherries  . 
27  baskets  cherries  . . 
.  . . . 
. 80 
. . 70 
. 60 
. 55 
. 50 
IS  baskets  cherries  . 
.  . . . 
. 40 
2  baskets  cherries  . . 
. 30 
27  baskets 
2!)  baskets 
16  baskets 
cherries 
cherries 
cherries 
153  baskets. 
64  qts.  cherries  . 10 
32  qts.  cherries  . 08 
ISO  qts.  cherries  . 06 
672  q_ts.  cherries  . 05 
320  qts.  cherries  . 0-1% 
04  qts.  cherries  . . . 04 
332  qts. 
)0  qts.  blackberries  . 
16  qts.  blackberries  . 
0  baskets  apples  .  1 
6  crates  raspberries  . 
jO  qts.  raspberries  . 
10  qts.  raspberries  . . 
52  qts.  currants  . 
50  qts.  currants  . 
36  qts.  gooseberries  . 
14  qts.  gooseberries  . 
12  qts.  gooseberries  . 
3  baskets  gooseberries  . 
L0  16-qt.  crates  .  1 
VEGETABLES. 
2  doz.  bunches  asparagus  . $1 
4  doz.  bundles  asparagus  .  1 
2  doz.  bundles  asparagus  .  1 
1  orate  asparagus  .  1 
.10 
.09 
.00 
.50 
.05 
.04 
.06 
.05 
.05% 
.05 
.04% 
.30 
.00 
1  crate  asparagus  . 
2  bids,  potatoes  . 
102  bids.  Eastern  Shore  No. 
17  bbls.  Eastern  Shore  No. 
1  basket  green  beans  .... 
4  baskets  green  beans  .  .  . 
1  basket  green  beans  .... 
1  potatoes.  . 
2  potatoes. . . 
_  2.00 
_  2.75 
_ 3.00 
.  1.50 
_  1.50 
_  1.00 
1  00 
1  basket  beans  . 
1  50 
11  baskets  beans  . 
_  1.25 
1  basket  beans  . 
1  15 
9  baskets  beans  . 
1  00 
4  baskets  wax  beans  .  .  .  . 
50 
2  baskets  wax  beaus  .  .  .  . 
75 
1  basket  wax  beaus  . 
. SO 
1  basket  wax  beaus  . 
. 90 
bags  beans,  284  lbs.,  per  cwt .  9. 
baskets  peas  .  1. 
baskets  peas  . 1. 
baskets  peas  .  1. 
Poultry  Swindler  Prosecuted 
Some  years  back  W.  8.  Bishop  &  Co.  did  a  produce 
commission  business  in  the  City  of  Now  York  and  en¬ 
joyed  a  good  reputation.  At  Mr.  Bishop’s  death  in 
1912  the  business  reverted  to  a  son-in-law-  The  son- 
in-law  died  in  1913.  At  that  time  the  business  was  in¬ 
corporated  and  Edward  Greenfield  became  a  principal 
factor  in  the  business.  It  was  reported  that  he  had 
previously  been  doing  a  retail  business  on  the  East  Hide 
of  the  city  and  closed  that  business  without  paying  all 
of  his  debts.  During  the  Christmas  season  of  1914  the 
firm  solicited  and  received  large  shipments  of  turkeys 
and  poultry,  and  accumulated  debts  in  excess  of 
$20,000.  The  business  was  then  thrown  into  bank¬ 
ruptcy  and  Greenfield  disappeared.  It  seems  that  Mr. 
Greenfield  had  concluded,  probably  on  information  of 
other  experiences,  that  sufficient  time  had  elapsed  to 
give  him  immunity  from  prosecution  in  the  City  of  New 
York  for  violation  of  trust  to  country  producers  and 
shippers.  Anyway,  he  concluded  it  was  safe  to  return 
to  the  produce  sections,  and  sought  and  secured  em¬ 
ployment  with  J.  &  G.  TJppman,  produce  dealers.  In¬ 
formation  came  to  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Mar- 
ets  of  his  Ideation,  and  the  information  was  at  once 
conveyed  to  the  authorities,  aud  the  Federal  District 
Attorney,  co-operating  with  the  State  Department  of 
Agriculture,  secured  his  arrest.  lie  was  charged  with 
conspiracy  to  rob  shippers  of  money  due  them  on  con¬ 
signed  goods,  and  he  was  also  charged  with  attempts  to 
conceal  from  the  receiver  assets  which  rightly  belonged 
to  the  shippers.  He  was  held  in  $5,000  bond  for  fur¬ 
ther  proceeding.  These  experiences  and  losses  to  ship¬ 
pers  are  not  infrequent,  and  yet  every  attempt  to  an¬ 
ticipate  them  and  to  prevent  losses  to  the  shipper  are  re¬ 
sented  and  opposed  by  the  produce  trade  quite  gen¬ 
erally- 
Egg  Claim  Collected 
When  eggs  were  selling  for  63e  a  dozen  last  No¬ 
vember,  Mr.  F.  1 )'.  Ileidelbaugh,  of  Strasburg,  Pa., 
shipped  to  tin-  Department  one  case  of  fancy  white 
eggs.  The  shipment  was  never  receivd  by  us,  and  a 
claim  was  plaed  with  the  express  company  for  the 
recovery  of  $18.90  to  reimburse  the  shipper  for  his 
loss.  After  seven  months’  persistent  effort  the  De¬ 
partment  has  succeeded  in  getting  a  settlement  of  the 
claim,  check  for  the  above  amount  has  now  been  re¬ 
ceived  and  transmitted  to  the  shipper.  As  a  final  re¬ 
sult  this  is  well  enough  ;  but'  a  just  claim  ought  to  be 
collected  with  less  than  seven  months  work  on  the 
part  of  the  Department. 
1888  lbs. 
