THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
December 26 
692 
MARKETS 
General Review. 
The potato demand continues good, and 
prices are holding well up to recent high 
figures. The Bermuda crop is beginning 
to arrive, but not in sufficiently large 
quantities to make much showing. Prices 
are more than double best Maine or Long 
Island tubers. The severe weather has cut 
short the outdoor apple trade, but sales 
from stores are satisfictory, somewhat 
larger than when weather permits free ex¬ 
posure of fruit outdoors. Turkeys are 
evidently going to be more plentiful for 
the Christmas holidays, though there is 
little prospect of choice birds going below 
no cents. Lower grades and all grades of 
chickens are likely to be lower than at 
Thanksgiving. Dressed calves are very 
dull. Pork is doing better, but roasting 
pigs are unusually low. There is little de¬ 
mand for them in this market at any time. 
Feed trade is active and responds quickly 
to a cold snap. 
Prices obtained during week ending De¬ 
cember 17, 1903; 
GRAIN.—Wheat, No. 1, Northern Du¬ 
luth, 94; No. 1, Northern New York, 93%; 
No. 2,. red, 90%. Corn, 52055. Oats, 41@43. 
Rye, 56@58. Barley, 53064. 
PEED.—Retail prices for New York and 
vicinity: Western Spring bran, 200-rb. sacks, 
$22024. Standard middlings, $23026. 
HAY AND STRAW.—Hay. No. 1, 85090; 
No. 2, 77%082%; No. 3, 65072%; clover, 
mixed, 70075; clover, 57%062%; marsh, 500 
55. Straw, long rye, $101.35. 
BEANS.—Marrow, bu., $2.5002.65; pea, 
$2.05; red kidney, $2.7002.75; white kidney, 
$2.75; black turtle soup, $2.75; yellow eye, 
$2.7502.80; Lima, California, $2.22%@2.25. 
MILK.—New York Exchange price 3% 
cents per quart to shippers in 26-cent 
freight zone. 
B U T T E R .—Creamery, 18025%; State 
dairy, 15022; Western factory, 13%@16; 
renovated, 13019; packing stock, 12%015. 
CHEESE.—Full cream, 9012; skims, 308. 
EGGS.—Choice to fancy, 31040; lower 
grades, 22028. 
DRI^ID FRUITS.—Apples, evaporated. 
407; sun-dried, 3%04; chops, 100 lbs., $2,400 
2.60; cores and skins, 100 lbs., $1.3501.50. 
Raspberries. 22023. Huckleberries, 13%014. 
Blackberries, 6%@5%. 
FRESH FRUITS.—Apples, good to ch., 
bbl., $204; lower grades, 750$1.75; Western, 
bushel box, $203.50. Pears, bbl., $102.50. 
Grapes,, 4-lb. basket, 12018; bulk, ton, $550 
70. Cranberries, bbl., $4.5008.50. 
VEGETABLES.—Potatoes, good to ch., 
bbl., $2.1202.37; lower g’des, $1.7502; sweets, 
bbl., $1.5003.50. Onions, red, bbl., $1.5002.25; 
yellow, $1.2502.25; white, $206.60. Cabbage, 
Danish seed, ton, $30040; domestic, $20030; 
bbl., $1.5002.25. Cauliflower, bbl., $207. 
Celery, doz., 10050. Carrots, bbl., $101.25. 
Turnips, white, bbl., 76@$1. Rutabaga, bbl., 
$101.12. Spinach, bbl., $2.7504. Squash, 
Hubbard, $101.25; marrow, 750$1. 
COUNTRY-DRESSED MEATS.—V e a 1 , 
calves, good to prime; 8010; buttermilks, 
304. Pork, light, 6%@7; medium, 606%. 
LIVE POULTRY.—Chickens, 10010%; 
fowls, 10010%; turkeys, 12; ducks, pair, 800 
90; geese, pair, $1.5001.62; pigeons, pair, 
20025, 
DRESSED POULTRY.—Turkeys, 15020; 
chickens, 13018; fowls, 1O%011; ducks, 140 
16; geese, 10017; squabs, doz., $1.7503. 
FARM CHEMICALS.—Prices given are 
for single ton to carload lots f. o. b.. New 
York: Nitrate of soda, ton, $42046. Dried 
blood, 12 to 13 per cent ammonia, $50056. 
Concentrated tankage, $15020. Ground 
bone, $22027, Acid phosphate, $10015. Mu¬ 
riate of potash, $40046. Sulphate of pot¬ 
ash, $42048. Kalnlt, $10012.60. Sulphate of 
Copper, per barrel of about 300 pounds, 6% 
cents. 
FURS.—Black bear, $20030; cubs and 
yearlings, $5015; badger, $101.50; otter, $70 
15. Beaver, large, $609; medium, $506; 
small, $304. Fox, silver, $500300; cross, 
$8025; red, $204; grey, 75@$1. Fisher, $50 
10. Wolf, prairie, $101.50; timber, $204. 
Wolverine, $408; lynx, $408; wild cat, 500 
$1; civet cat, 25030. House cat, black, 
colored, 8010. Marten, dark, $5015; pale, 
$305. Skunk, black, $1.2501.40; half-striped, 
80090; long-striped, 80090; striped, 40050; 
white, 20030. Raccoon, 750$1.4O. Opossum, 
large, 50000; medium, 20030; small, 10015. 
Rabbit, 101%; mink, $1.5006. Muskrat, 
Winter, 20025; Fall, 13018; kits, 405. 
LIVE STOCK. 
NEW YORK.—Steers, native, $4.6005.10; 
bulls, $1.1003.80; calves, veal, $408.50; lower 
grades, $2.6003.50. Sheep, $2.2504; lambs, 
$5.5006.35. Hogs, $5.12%05.26. 
EAST BUFFALO.— Butchers’ steers, $3.50 
04.7.5; Stockers and feeders, $2.5003.76; 
calves, $507.60. Sheep, $204; lambs, $4,600 
6.30. Hogs, $4.9506; pigs, $506.25. 
CHICAGO.—Steers, good to prime, $4,900 
5.15; Stockers and feeders, $1.7504; cows, 
$1.5003.90. Sheep, $2.5003.40; lambs, $406.75. 
Hogs, mixed and butchers', $4.4504.70. 
MARKET NEWS 
CALIFORNIA TOMATOES in a smali 
quantity are arriving here. They are 
packed in the ordinary four-basket square 
plum crate, seliing at $1 to $2 each. Those 
that we have noticed were weli colored and 
looked better than many of the southern 
out-of-season tomatoes, but they are all 
much inferior to the hothouse crop. Of 
course the latter are more expensive, but 
they go farther, all but the skin being 
edible. 
SHIP BEEF.—It is said that saiiors iet 
pieces of this get thoroughly dry and then 
carve out trinkets and ornaments as one 
wouid from bone or wood. The first time 
an uninitiated person tries it this story ap¬ 
pears entirely credible; the excessive salt¬ 
ing giving it a texture that wouid be a 
credit to soie leather and lignum-vitse. The 
nutriment may be there, but it is in de- 
cidediy Insoiuble form. In dining on beef 
and cabbage at restaurants near the water 
front one is likely to be served with sam¬ 
ples of this ship beef. 
THE MUSHROOM HUMBUG.—“Is - 
the concern referred to in articie on mush- 
ropms, page 786?” w. 
The address given is not the special one 
in mind when the note referred to was 
written, but they are evidentiy cut off the 
same block. Our purpose was to warn 
readers against alt humbugs of this type. 
The scheme is the same as aii easy work 
at home plans. Send so much money for 
materials to start and then they will take 
all the output at an enormous price. It often 
happens that the work is something that 
no one but an expert can successfully 
handle, so their offer to take the finished 
product at almost any price is safe. If 
anyone should succeed in doing the work, 
they would find plenty of excuses for cut¬ 
ting down the price to what it is worth in 
the general market. A good many people 
in New York and other cities are making 
a good living in preying upon others. They 
often work as hard at it as would be neces¬ 
sary at an honest job. 
AVERAGE PRICES.—“Give the aver¬ 
age retaii prices of the foiiowing vege¬ 
tables from May 1 to November 15: Aspara¬ 
gus, beans, beets, carrots, cauliflower, 
celery, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, pota¬ 
toes, parsnips, rhubarb, spinach, tomatoes 
and turnips.” R. 
New York. 
The retail price in one place might differ 
widely from another. This is true in differ¬ 
ent parts of this city. It would be pos¬ 
sible in one day to find such produce as 
vegetables retailing at one price in one 
section of the city and double this figure 
in another for the same quality. The best 
answer we can give is to add to the aver¬ 
age wholesale prices for the period named 
a fair retail profit, say 10 or 15 per cent. 
Calculating in this way the following would 
be a fair answer: Asparagus, bunch, 30 
cents; beans, quart, 10 cents; beets and 
carrots, bunch, five cents; cauliflower, head, 
10 cents; celery, bunch, 10 cents; lettuce, 
head, seven cents; onions, peck, 60 cents; 
parsley, bunch, 16 cents; parsnips, peck, 30 
cents; rhubarb, bunch, eight cents; spin¬ 
ach, peck, 25 cents; tomatoes, quart, 10 
cents; turnips, peck, 20 cents. 
FLOWERS AND PLANTS.—About the 
holiday season each year some wise news¬ 
paper reporter tells the public that flower 
growers are organizing into a trust, with 
intent to charge prohibitive prices for their 
products. It is a pity that a worthy in¬ 
dustry should be so maligned, for the raise 
in flower prices at Christmas is no more 
sensational than the increase in any other 
line caused by the conditions of supply 
and demand. Christmas gifts very often 
take the form of flowers or plants, and 
a week of unfavorable weather just before 
that time may entirely change the out¬ 
look. Of late years pot plants have formed 
a large part of the Christmas trade. The 
first two weeks in December the flower 
trade was not at all rushing, there being 
less demand than usual except for funeral 
work. Carnations were noi in heavy sup¬ 
ply, so prices were fairly firm, standards 
$2 to $3 per 100, fancy $4 to $5, and novel¬ 
ties $6 to 8. Violets were very fluctuating, 
and it is the opinion among some conser¬ 
vative men that they are beginning to suf¬ 
fer from over-production. Prices were 30 
to 40 cents for inferior, 50 to $1 for ordinary, 
and $1 to $1.50 for special. It may be re¬ 
marked that violets held as “special” one 
day may soon degenerate by holding into 
ordinary or inferior. Roman hyacinths and 
Paper White Narcissus are in fair sup¬ 
ply at $3; sweet peas are in limited quan¬ 
tity at $1.50 and $2. Callas are $6 to $8 per 
100; lilies $8 to $10. Greens are not very 
active; smilax $6 to $§; asparagus $25 to $50. 
A few American Beauties are held at $40, 
but No. I is only $8 to $10, and extras $12 
to $20. Other roses range all the way from 
$1.50 to $12, but of course all the prices 
quoted are entirely changed the week pre¬ 
ceding Christmas. With the clear cold 
weather, the quality of Christmas flowers 
is likely to be very good. 
NtW YORK STATE DAIRYMEN'S 
ASSOCIATION. 
The twenty-seventh annual meeting of 
this Association at Ogdensburg December 
8-10 was large and successful. The exhi¬ 
bition was excellent, and all the sessions 
were well attended. Assistant Commis¬ 
sioner Flanders responded to the address 
of welcome from the Mayor of Ogdensburg, 
followed by the address of the retiring 
president, H. E. Cook. Prof. R. A. Pear¬ 
son, of Cornell, discussed “Market Milk.” 
“Cool-Curing Cheese” was treated by Prof. 
J. A. Ruddlck, Chief of the Dairy Division 
“The Status of Agricultural Practice” was 
discussed by Director Jordan, of the State 
Experiment Station, who said that New 
York far excels all her sister States in the 
value of her dairy products, which exceed¬ 
ed $55,000,000 in 1899, no other State reaching 
$36,000,000. “The Relation of Forage Crops 
to Milk Production” was described by Prof. 
Hunt, of Cornell, who contrasted the 
physical conditions in other States with 
those prevailing in New York, and urged 
the importance of covering neglected hill¬ 
sides with profitable pasture. The treas¬ 
urer’s report showed receipts, $1,503; dis¬ 
bursements, $1,120; balance, $383. Officers 
elected were: President, Geo. A. Smith, 
Frankfort; vice-presidents, U. C. Beebe, 
Arcade, and M. T. Morgan, West Winfield; 
secretary, Robert McAdam, Rome; assist¬ 
ant secretary and treasurer, J. Van Wag- 
enen, Jr., Lawyersville; directors, W. H. 
Jordan, Horace Rees, W. E. Griffith, E. F. 
Rawley, W. H. Hallock and J. D. Fred- 
erickson. 
Manual of Corn Judgino, by A. D. 
Shamel. 72 pages, well illustrated; Orange 
Judd Co., New York. Price 50 cents. Mr. 
Shamel, formerly crop expert at the Uni¬ 
versity of Illinois, and now with the De¬ 
partment of Agriculture, Washington, D, 
C., is a thorough master of his subject. 
Corn breeding for definite ends in increas¬ 
ing yield and quality has become an im¬ 
portant feature, and the rules here given 
for judging the product are of great in¬ 
terest and value. Methodical corn breed¬ 
ing Is likely to add more to the real 
wealth of the nation in proportion to the 
effort involved than any imaginable pur- 
suit. ___________ 
“WttAT happens when a man’s tem¬ 
perature goes down as far as it can go?” 
Smart scholar: “He has cold feet, 
ma’am.”—Sydney Town and Country 
Journel. 
“Some folks,” said Uncle Ehen, “loses 
de full benefit of deir work by not bein’ 
able to handle it. De chicken kin lay de 
egg, but she can’t poach it.”—Washing¬ 
ton Star. 
“De only trouble ’bout dem mansions 
in de skies,” said the deacon, “is dat 
you can’t mortgage ’em fer money ter 
pay de house rent in dis vale er tears.” 
—Atlanta Constitution. 
Sportsman (wishing for fresh fields 
to conquer): “I should like to try my 
hand at big game.” Fair Ignoramus: 
“Yes, I suppose you find it very hard to 
hit these little birds!”—Punch. 
Willie (scared): “Now we’ve milked 
the cow, what’ll we do? Pop’ll be aw¬ 
fully mad.” Jimmy (equal to the occa¬ 
sion) : “We’ll drive her down to the pond 
and fill her up with water.”—Credit 
Lost 
“Behold,” whispered the spiritualistic 
medium, “it is the spirit of your late 
wife.” The man sat still and said noth¬ 
ing. “Don’t you understand?” whisper¬ 
ed the medium again. “It is your de¬ 
parted wife. Why don’t you speak to 
her?” “Oh, she’ll do the speaking if it’s 
her.”—Tit-Bits. 
MAKE HENS PAY 
Humphrey Op^n Hopper Hone Cutter 
Uumphrej Bupid Clorer Cutter 
I .”'1' If’’’!.* •«* your 
MU In lisir. OtinnntMd to cut cuter and futa 
I then »nj other. TrUl offer und ounlogue free. 
HUMrHREY. Full St. Fuctory, Joliet, III. 
Book keep¬ 
ing, etc .thor¬ 
oughly taught 
Situation8forallgradaate8.CompleteCour.se 
for Home Study, !S6. Catalogue free. ■' 
O. C. GAINES, Box 637, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 
or 119 West 126th Street, New York, N. Y. 
We have just com¬ 
pleted and now have 
ready for distribution 
a fine catalogue de¬ 
scribing and illustrat¬ 
ing by fine half-tone 
views made from or¬ 
iginal photographs of 
Twenty fine farms ^ 
we have for sale 
iOcated in Union, 
Logan, ann M a d i s o nUi , 
counties, Ohio, ranging in size from 50 acre! 
up to 700 acres. Every -farm a Special 
Barg'aiu. u.,',.. \ 
L ififyofi.;'vant,to^Duy.send for this cata-i,> 
iogue at once, lj Don’t^delay, write to-day. 
Bell Bros. & Stevenson, 
aHlarysviile, Ohio. oep. e.P 
Choice B.irred and Buff P. Uock and White 
Wyandotte Cockerels. Also puUets. Price 
reasonable. Da 8. C. MOYEIt, tansdale. Pa. 
Diirred Plymouth Uock Cockerels-Leading strains, 
^ $1 apiece, nicely barred. Chester White and Poland 
China Sows bred. Also serviceable Boars at farmers’ 
prices. D. D. Khlnesmlth, Lack P. O., Juniata Co.,Pa. 
Id 
DUTCH BELTED CALVES of 
G. G. GIBBS. Vail, M.* J. 
K n W two-cent stamp for reliable 
Ilia bI I Un W prices on Haw Furs and Ginseng. 
No curiosity seekers answered. LEMUEL BLACK, 
Exporter and Dealer in Haw Furs and Glnseng-Hights- 
town, N. J., Lock Box 48. Beference: First National 
Bank of Hlghtstown. 
Oldest Commission 
eggs, pork,poultry, dressed calves, game, < 
B. B. WOODWARD, 302 Greenwich Street, 
iiouse m New York. 
Est.1838. Bntter.cheese 
etc. Frnltu'' 
New York’ 
GKO. P. HAMMOND. EST. 1875, PHANK W. GODWIN. 
GEO. P. HAMMOND & CO. 
t 
Commission Merchants and Dealers in all kinds of 
COUNTRY PRODUCE, Apples, Peaches, Berries. 
Butter, Eggs, Cheese, Poultry. Mushrooms and Hot¬ 
house Products a Specialty. Consignments solicited. 
34 & 36 Little fzth St.. New York. 
WANTED 
HAY AND STRAW 
WRITE FOR QUOTATIONS. 4 
F. D. HEWITT, 120 Liberty St., H. Y. 
ATT E NT IO =5 
favor us with your orders. Mail orders a specialty. 
I. BEHZ, Labor Agency, 2 Carlisle St., New York. 
FARMS 
For rich farming, fruit growing, hoe 
write ’J.D.S.HANSON.Sl^S: 
FOR 254 
All about tbe land of fiunRblne, fruUs and tlowers. 
~~ UeHOurcea and loniance. IIIub. May. 1 yr. trial, 26c. 
The Western Empire, 75 Times Block, Los Angeles 
Horses, Cattle, Sheep, 
and Swine. 
We have some volumes of this book 
that have become slightly shelf soiled 
on one end. You would hardly notice 
it, but we cannot send them out at the 
regular $2 price of the book. As long 
as they last we will mail them prepaid 
to subscribers only on receipt of $1. 
This is Prof. Geo. W. Curtis’s grea^ 
live stock hook, with nearly 100 full- 
page engravings. It is used as a text 
book in most of the agricultural coV* 
leges of the United States and Canada- 
Orders at this price will not be accepted 
from dealers or schools. Orders with 
$1 will be accepted as long as the soiled 
edition lasts from subscribers only. 
The Rural New-Yorker, New York. 
aON^T BUY GASOLINE ENGINES “THE“MAsfER“woi?mAN,’ 
