7o8 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
OCTOBER 26 
farmer, and are not troubled so much about 
holding or selling our crops. I farm about 
60 acres: about 20 are in berries. They are 
sold as soon as they can be picked, mostly 
in the New York market. Our next main 
crop is sweet potatoes. Some sell in the 
fall and they pay well then; others, like 
myself, have their cellars fitted for storing, 
and keep potatoes till winter or spring. We 
have found that it pays best to store and 
to sell about the holidays and from then 
till spring. Our commission houses as well 
as our agent at the station keep us posted 
as to prices. Corn, round potatoes, all 
kinds of garden truck, eggs, butter, pork, 
etc., not consumed at home, are sold in our 
local market. In winter I run a chicken 
ranch and raise about 2,000 broilers, which 
are sold in New York in early spring. I am 
posted as to prices by my agents and the 
houses in New York. A. P. A. 
Vineland. 
NEW YORK. 
I GROW mostly perishable crops for home 
consumption and sell them as soon as I can 
for what they will bring. T. E. B. 
Schuylerville, N. Y. 
I SELL my crops generally in the fall. I 
rely mostly on the government reports for 
keeping myself posted on the amount of 
the different farm products raised, and 
hold or sell accordingly, and even then I 
am sometimes deceived. According to ob¬ 
servation, the farmer that makes a general 
practice of selling his crops in the fall, real¬ 
izes the most money. But few farmers are 
aware of the large per cent, that is lost by 
shrinkage by holding too long. c. P. B. 
Stafford. 
As TO marketing our crops, I am in a 
dairy country and our money “ crops ” come 
from the cows in the shape of butter and 
cheese. The milk is carried to the factory 
and there made up into butter or cheese. 
We pay a man to sell these. We have a 
sales day when salesmen and buyers get to¬ 
gether. The salesman is a patron of the 
factory. We try to raise enough on the 
farm to keep the cows ; little beyond dairy 
products is sold from the farm. J. H. 
Sinclairville. 
IN regard to marketing my chief crops, I 
would say that my decisions are somewhat 
varied. Sometimes they are based on actu¬ 
al information and oftentimes on theory. I 
have recourse to the last-named means only 
when I am unable to procure definite infor¬ 
mation. My chief crops are evaporated 
raspberries, potatoes, lambs, wool, sheep, 
wheat and oats. The latter are secondary 
with me. In the first place, I take every 
possible means of keeping myself posted 
from the commencement of the season, tak¬ 
ing four papers, one daily—a Rochester 
morning one—three weekly, the R. N.-Y. 
included. This gives me a large range in 
regard to the markets, both local and dis¬ 
tant. I watch closely the government re¬ 
ports on growing crops. I also get price 
currents from commission firms once a 
week, from New York, Philadelphia and 
Boston, and ship my products to these 
cities if local buyers are not paying what 
markets at headquarters warrant me to ask, 
less freight and other expenses. I live in 
one of the best fruit sections of Western 
New York, where nine-tenths of the apples 
and black raspberries are evaporated, and 
my principal crop being dried berries, I 
handle them to get all I can out of that 
crop. I barrel them as soon as they are 
properly dried, in new sweet barrels, and if 
the crop is generally light and other evapo¬ 
rated fruits correspondingly so, I hold until 
the first of February of the ensuing year, 
(no later) and then sell. If before that time 
they reach a figure near what I think is a 
good offer I sell to the home buyers or 
ship to some distant dealer. I never am 
anxious to sell any crop that I produce 
when I see local shippei’s riding around 
the country buying up any particular com¬ 
modity. But when I miss their presence 
at certain seasons, I begin to look for them 
and sell what I have of crops that have been 
above the average in production for the year. 
In selling potatoes I prefer to dispose of 
them in midwinter as I can do it cheaper 
when the teams are not so busy. There is 
a time—generally in February—when pota¬ 
toes are the highest on the average, for the 
year; that is when the stock bought in the 
fall before navigation and cheap freight 
rates are over, runs out,and before the spring 
trade and shipments arrive at headquar¬ 
ters. Last winter was somewhat an excep¬ 
tion to this rule owing to its being such an 
open season. I deviate from this rule when 
the crop is large and very cheap in the fall, 
as was the case last year. Then I get all I 
possibly can to market. Wool I sell at or 
near shearing time, as I find it bi’ings me 
more at that time than at any other, as the 
manufacturers send their men regularly 
every season to buy and take it in and 
they are able to pay more for such grades as 
they want than they could if they bought 
from some heavy Eastern dealer who had 
paid freight and commission from the 
West. I sell my lambs at the local butch¬ 
er’s or to runners from Rochester, keeping 
myself posted on the Buffalo market, and 
making my price accordingly, turning off 
my store sheep when there is a scarcity and 
prices are high, as at present. Wheat and 
oats, I sell when there is the best demand 
from millei’s and feeders, which is generally 
during the winter months, or in the case of 
a wheat boom or corner I drop mine into 
market if I can when the “corner” iron is 
at a white heat! Sometimes these rules of 
mine do not work to my benefit. When I 
get too much theory mixed in with my 
ideas in regard to the probable price of a 
certain crop, I often lose as much as I 
make on some others about which I have 
more certain knowledge. F. w. s. 
W. Walworth. 
My chief cash crops are potatoes, pork 
and butter. I sell as soon as my crops are 
ready for market. I think that, taking one 
year with another, that is the best time to 
sell. I have sometimes held my produce 
for higher prices when I thought, from 
reading the crop x-eports in the Rural and 
other papers, that the state of the crops in 
general warranted it, but have not always 
been successful in getting a higher price. 
I usually manage to have early spring pigs, 
and sell them about the middle of Septem¬ 
ber, at the opening of the fall trade. And 
then I have early fall pigs, which I sell 
about March 1. I manage to have my cows 
fresh in September or October, because 
winter dairying pays better than summer 
dairying. I have a fine crop of Monroe 
Seedling Potatoes this fall, and am putting 
them in the cellar. My reason for this is 
that there is a demand for that kind for 
seed next spring, at a higher price than po¬ 
tatoes are bringing now. If my crop were 
any of the common varieties, I would sell 
as soon as they were dug. From reports of 
the potato crop I see nothing to indicate a 
higher price. p. c. B. 
Middle Falls. 
I AM a milkman and am selling about 225 
quarts per day. I produce most of it my¬ 
self and sell it at five cents per quart in 
summer and six in wintei’. I think a great 
deal of the Rural. o. w. g. 
Olean. 
OHIO. 
To keep posted on the market I watch 
the prices in the nearest large market as 
given by the papers, also the State reports 
and various other reports as to the probable 
yield at home and abroad, and make com¬ 
parisons with the condition of things the 
previous year. But, of course, these things 
can not be depended upon as a certainty, 
for a corner is likely to occur without much 
regard to the relation of supply and demand. 
Some farmers around here held their wheat 
last year and the good prices came; they 
were offered $1.10 per bushel, but held for 
a little more, and are now selling it for 75 
cents. Unless there appears to be quite a 
considerable deficiency in the supply, I sell 
my grain as soon as it is thrashed and avoid 
all risk, shrinkage, waste, etc. Corn and 
oats I seldom have to sell. If I had them I 
would prefer to feed them to sheep and 
hogs, and sell the hogs in early fall or 
spring, and the sheep in March or June. 
Wool I sell when about two-thirds of the 
wool in this vicinity is bought; the price 
usually starts low and competition brings 
it up until the bulk of it is bought, and then 
very often it drops. Potatoes I would haul 
to market right from the field, if I could get 
25 cents per bushel for them, unless I had 
more than the average facilities for storing 
them. c. E. F. 
Brighton. 
PENNSYLVANIA. 
Corn, wheat, oats, potatoes and tobacco 
are our chief crops. Corn is sold from Feb- 
x’uary 1, to September 1. Some is sold from 
the field; but not a great deal. Wheat is sold 
about from the time when it is in a condi¬ 
tion to be thrashed until spring unless 
there is a rise in the mai-kets, when sales 
are the highest. Oats sell highest about 
June, and tobacco from March 1, to May 1. 
Potatoes are sold from October 1, until the 
weather is too cold for shipping. To learn 
the pi-ices I inquire of the local dealers and 
observe the market reports of the city 
papers. I do not hold my products, but sell 
them when I have time to thrash and de¬ 
liver, unless the markets are up, when I try 
to meet them, for future prospects are 
very uncertain. j. s. c. 
Shiremanstown. 
Potatoes are my chief crop. Sometimes 
I sell in the fall and at other times in the 
spring—about planting time. I try to keep 
myself posted on the state of the market 
through local dealers and the market re- 
pox’ts in the R. N.-Y. I decide when to sell 
by the prices offered, and the crop reports 
in the R. N.-Y. L. w. MCE. 
Wilawana. 
Our chief marketable products are hay 
and dairy goods. Hay is pi’essed and sent 
to New York and the coal mines. Butter 
is generally sent fresh, though some is 
packed and held for better prices, which 
are nearly always obtained in December and 
later. Potatoes are a failure—half a crop 
at most. Buckwheat is good; oats fail*. I 
stock my farm with sheep and colts. 
Wellsboro. D. A. s. 
This is a dairy section. Wheat is the 
only grain sold, and I genei-ally sell from 
the machine. I usually thrash it in Au¬ 
gust. I value the Rural for its informa¬ 
tion as to crops, and think it is the best 
source of information I know of as to the 
abundance or scarcity of crops. J. P. 
Wawa. 
RHODE ISLAND. 
Our chief crops which we turn direct 
into money are potatoes and garden truck. 
In case of the latter, we endeavor to grow 
such as will find a ready market at the 
hotels here during July and August. Po¬ 
tatoes we sometimes sell at the same time ; 
but often we hold them till February, 
when, as a general thing, they bring a trifle 
more in the Providence market, because, I 
suppose, the winter supply is then reduced 
and the weather too cold for extensive 
shipments. I determine whether to sell or 
hold them in August, by the price paid at 
our local market, by the reports in my 
papers on the general crops throughout our 
country and by the R. N.-Y. “Special Re¬ 
ports.” Hay I never sell, but turn it into 
money first through my cows. (I sell milk 
during July and August and butter the re¬ 
mainder of the year), and, second, through 
my sheep for early lambs and wool. Stock- 
raising does not pay here now except that 
we need domestic animals to keep up a 
proper balance on the farm. Grain I can¬ 
not grow for the figui'es at which I can buy 
it, but I grow considerable in the rotation 
of crops and turn it into money with more 
or less profit, first, through my hens (for 
eggs), turkeys and geese, for the Thanksgiv¬ 
ing and Christmas markets, and, second, 
through my hogs for spring and fall pigs 
for the local demand. E. P. c. 
Block Island. 
VERMONT. 
The large majority of the inhabitants in 
town are engaged in “ raising ” marble and 
preparing it for market. It is mostly sold 
by drummers, though the marble dealers 
throughout the country have a date for 
coming together here and having a good 
time, and selecting such as they desire. So 
far as the crops from farmers and market- 
gardeners are concerned, I think there is 
no special time for marketing them, as we 
are within three or four miles of the largest 
village in the State (and some say in New 
England), where the products can be sold 
at any time when ready, so that there is no 
need of studying markets abroad. There is 
a cheese-factory in town and I am told that 
the products are sent to the Boston market 
about once a month. One or two farmers 
raise very fine Mei’ino sheep which they are 
in the habit of selling in the West and 
Southwest whenever they can get their 
price. • J. D. 
W. Rutland. 
Cucnjiuljcrc. 
RURAL SPECIAL REPORTS. 
Illinois. 
Yellow Creek, Stephenson County, 
October 3. — It appears as if we should 
have a better clover seed crop than in pre¬ 
vious yeai-s. Corn is an average crop. 
Wheat is poor. Rye is an average, oats 
from 40 to 60 bushels. Potatoes are above 
an average crop. P. A. 
Indiana. 
Elkhart, Elkhart County, October 7.— 
Clover seed is worth, $3.75 to $4 per bushel, 
and there is probably 50 jxer cent, of a full 
ci'op in this county. Of wheat some report 
30 bushels per acre, and there is probably 80 
per cent, of a full ci’op. Of corn some re¬ 
port 97 per cent, of a full crop, but it will 
not average over 80 per cent. Oats are the 
best ci’op in the last five years, and will 
avex'age 40 bushels per acre. Potatoes a 
fair crop. Rye an average of 20 bushels 
per acx-e. There was a large crop of hay 
axxd it is worth from $6 to $8 per ton. Ap¬ 
ples one-quarter of a crop, and of a poor 
quality. Of the growing wheat crop re¬ 
ports say there is no fly, but the weather is 
too dry, so it comes on slowly. P. H. 0. 
Michigan. 
Mason, Ingham County, October 5.—In 
Mason and the vicinity clover seed is a full 
crop. Wheat is generally sown. The 
weather has been cold and dry since about 
the middle of September. Unless we have 
rain soon wheat will be small for winter. 
Potatoes are a good crop and of excellent 
quality. Apples about two-thirds of a 
crop. * • T. w. N. 
Brighton, Livingston County, October 
6.—Clover seed has averaged about two 
bushels per acre: this is more than the 
average yield. Other crops haven’t done as 
well as usual on account of drought. 
I. H. p. 
Monroe, Monroe County, October 11.— 
What clover has been thrashed turns out 
pool’—not half a crop. One thrasher said 
that he thrashed all day on 20 acres and 
got only eight bushels; another said that 
he had not made more than enough to pay 
expenses so far. Wheat in yield is as good 
as last year; but the quality is not so good, 
it has shrunk more or less. Early-sown 
oats are better than last year; late-sown 
were struck with rust and were light. Corn 
will not average over two thirds as much as 
lust year. Hay will average as good as last 
year. Hay and grain were secured without 
any rain to hurt them, and the weather is 
dry yet. Early potatoes are good; late 
ones are not as good as they would have 
been if it had not been so dry. Pears and 
apples the best we have had for a long time. 
Grapes are good. w. D. 
Quincy, Branch County, October 7.—As 
l-egards clover seed in this section, the crop 
is extra, probably 25 or 30 per cent, better 
than for a number of years. The potato 
crop is good—no rot. Wheat poor—injured 
by aphis. Apple crop fair. Oat crop very 
good. c. H. 
New York. 
Avoca, Steuben County, October 1.— 
Some time since I reported potatoes 60 per 
cent, of an average crop. I find, as they are 
being dug, that the estimate was far too 
high, it looks now as though there would be 
one-half an average crop. Grain is not 
yielding very well. C. H. E. 
Ohio. 
Edgerton, Rock County, October 5.— 
Three different men who make a business 
of hulling clover seed and w I 10 thrash over 
a large scope of country report a scant half 
crop of both large and small clover seed. 
Corn, oats, potatoes and hay are good crops; 
wheat good on the sand, poor on clay and 
heavy soil. H. s. 
Medina, Medina County, October 5.— 
According to present indications the clovex- 
seed crop will be a full average at least. 
Of wheat we are thrashing a very heavy 
crop. Corn very poor and potatoes nearly 
a failure. There is a large crop of hay; 
but it is uniformly of poor quality, as hay¬ 
ing weather was very bad. w. I*. W 
Defiance County.— Clover seed in my 
neighborhood has not turned out well: one 
to three bushels per acre. I hear, however, 
that on the gravel l’idges there have been 
yields as high as six bushels; that is, of the 
“ big ” kind. Price low : $3.50: to the “ hul- 
ler,” 75 cents. Wheat is not up yet; the 
weather is too dry and on that account less 
was put in than was intended. Only hei’e 
and there have we a fair yield of corn. 
Wheat, oats and hay are average crops. 
1 . I. J. 
Vermont. 
WlLLlAMSTOWN, Orange County, October 
12.—Eax-ly-planted potatoes are yielding 
fairly well; while later-planted are not half 
a crop. Early in the season potatoes began 
to rot, but xi week or 10 days of dry weath¬ 
er saved them from further decay. Through 
our township there will not be much more 
than half a crop; mine yielded at the rate 
of 175 bushels of marketable tubei’s to the 
acre; they are selling for 50 cents per 
bushel hei’e. H. L. P. 
