1900 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKERJ 
361 
Publisher’s Desk. 
Last week I visited the home of a 
subscriber who had received a Ruby 
Queen rase. The plant had had nice 
care, but the leaves curled up and were 
falling off, and it was feared that it was 
dying. This was a needless alarm. 
The plant was all right, and will soon 
leaf out again if the care be continued. 
See note in reference to it on page 340. 
Orders are coming in fast for that 
watch which we offer as a 75-cent bar 
gain for the month of x.iay. If you want 
it and 'bestir yourself quick in getting 
the new subscriber, you will be safe in 
promising the new rose all this month. 
No roses are being sent out this week; 
possibly none next week. We shall re¬ 
port when all have been sent, so that if 
any have been missed or gone astray, 
they may be supplied. Do not write 
about it yet if you have not received it, 
as you are probably on the list at the 
nursery, waiting for the proper develop¬ 
ment of the plants, which we shall begin 
sending out May 21. 
MARKET BRIEFS. 
Picked Up Here and There. 
JCE.—The indications are that (lie price 
in this city for the coming 1 season will bo 
00 cents per 100—about double what It was 
last year. This is far higher than in the 
majority of large towns throughout the 
country, where prices range from 15 to 40 
cents per 100. In New Orleans competi¬ 
tion keeps it down to 15 cents. There is 
no competition here. One company has 
swallowed up all of the others, and ap¬ 
parently controls the available supply for 
this market. Like many other concerns, 
this ice trust Is in business, for the money 
it can make, and is not going to be trou¬ 
bled with conscientious scruples about 
charging an extravagant price for a house¬ 
hold necessity. Probably few who live in 
the country, where shade, pure air and 
cool water are plentiful, have any idea 
how necessary a little ice is for the poor, 
who are crowded together like sheep in the 
tenement sections of the city. During 
periods of extreme heat these houses are 
like ovens, and the streets are not much 
better, for the pavements and brick walls 
do not get cooled during the night. It 
is easy to see that, if the price of ice is 
prohibitive, the suffering among these peo¬ 
ple must be great and the deatli rate high. 
“FANCY ALBION BALDWINS.”—This 
sign on a street fruit stand attracted my 
attention. The apples were of medium 
size, high-colored and hard. The flavor 
was excellent, and they were more juicy 
than any other Baldwins I have bought on 
the street recently. In fact the quality 
was unusually good for this time of year. 
I was unable to learn who the grower was, 
as the Italian fruit seller did not know 
much about them except that they were 
Baldwins from Albion, N. Y., which he 
had bought of some one in the market. 
It is evident that the grower knew some¬ 
thing about caring for an orchard. He 
had given the sun a chance to get at the 
fruit, and had not let the worms carry 
the trees away bodily. Then whoever 
handled them after picking knew something 
about the proper method of storing fruit. 
Ignorance of these things is to a large ex¬ 
tent what puts so many poor apples on 
the market, particularly late in the sea¬ 
son. Within a week I have eaten Bald¬ 
wins of good size, but with less flavor and 
juice than a respectable squash. No won¬ 
der that the average man who buys them 
concludes that it is getting too late in the 
Spring for apples, and resolves to get 
oranges in the future. There is no reason - 
why, after seasons of plenty, there should 
not be a supply of good apples in this 
market until nearly June 1. They would 
sell well if of A1 quality, and the growers 
and packers have this matter largely in 
their own hands. 
MAKING BAR IRON.—I stopped a few 
minutes at a small rolling mill. A chunk 
of white-hot iron about four feet long and 
six inches square was taken from the fur¬ 
nace with tongs, and rushed along on a 
trolley wire to the rolls. There two men 
took charge of it—one each side of the 
rolls. When it came through on one side, 
the workman grabbed one end with his 
tongs and started it back through the next 
smaller set. For the particular size of 
iron that they were making at the time, it 
went through 14 series of rolls, and, fin¬ 
ished, was about 30 feet long, and l*4x% 
inch wide and thick. The whole process 
took about a minute. When finished, two 
men took the bar, still red hot, one at each 
end, whipped it up and down like a rope, 
straightened out the kinks, and, when about 
cool, laid it on a pile with others. The 
heaviest and most dangerous part of the 
work seemed to be handling the white-hot 
chunk through the first four or five rollers. 
The men wore large glasses to protect their 
eyes from the sparks, which flew In all di¬ 
rections. They made no mistakes. A 
misstep would have burned them, perhaps 
fatally. It is very exhausting to stand 
within a few inches of such a white-hot 
mass, do the heavy lifting and make the 
quick motions necessary. When the bar 
was finished, the men instantly sat down 
for a few seconds’ rest until the next piece 
was ready, even though they were big 
muscular fellows who looked as though 
they could outwork two or three ordinary 
men. ’the old saying about its being un¬ 
wise to fool with a buzz saw or dynamo 
will apply here. It is well for a greenhorn 
to keep out of the business end of a roll¬ 
ing mill, as he is liable to stop on some 
things and take hold of others that will 
make him wish for ice. w. w. h. 
THE SHORT PACKAGE LAW. 
The provision relating to apple barrels 
has had a year’s trial, and that covering 
small fruit packages is now being tested. 
Below are the ideas of some dealers and 
officials in this city regarding the enforce¬ 
ment of these laws 
Charles Forster says: "My opinion is 
that the law in regard to apple barrels 
has been generally respected during the 
season that is past. The old stock of 
short barrels is being worked off, and it 
is my opinion that short barrels will not 
be manufactured in the future in any 
quantity, unless under special instructions 
and for special purposes. The enactment 
of the law creating a standard barrel for 
tlie State of New York lias met with such 
general approval by apple growers, deal¬ 
ers and exporters that other States are 
moving in the same direction. A Vir¬ 
ginia Senator obtained a copy of the New 
York law, and has succeeded in having the 
same enactment passed by the Legislature 
of that State. It is understood that 
Maine is moving in the same line, and that 
there will soon be a standard barrel law 
in that State. The size of the present bar¬ 
rel is meeting with approval at home and 
abroad. The law in regard to the stand¬ 
ard package for small fruits is just now 
coming into operation, and at the moment 
it is scarcely possible to forecast the re¬ 
sults.” 
Olivit Bros, say: "We are in favor of 
honest measure and full-sized packages, 
but doubt whether this law in regard to 
short small fruit packages wall be enforced. 
These goods are sold on their merits, and 
customers pay for what they buy. If they 
buy a short quart, they don’t pay so much 
lor it. It is also argued that this law can 
apply only to goods packed in this State, 
anti that fruits sold in original packages 
from other States cannot be held account¬ 
able to it. Most of the irregular-sized 
packages we receive come from the South. 
Wo do not anticipate much trouble with 
the State and nearby product. If custom¬ 
ers manifested any interest in the enforce¬ 
ment of this law, something might bo 
done, but the majority of them care noth¬ 
ing about it, and would not support the 
dealers in any efforts in this line.” 
A. F. Young says: “I believe we ought 
to have uniform packages for small fruits. 
The law compelling this Is not enforced, 
and will not be respected until an example 
is made of some of the violators. Sup¬ 
pose a dozen arrests were made in differ¬ 
ent parts of the city. There would be no 
trouble to obtain convictions on proper 
evidence. The news would spread all 
through the markets, and shippers would 
be notified that they must send no more 
short packages here unless properly 
marked. 1 would not recommend undue 
harshness or excessive fines, but until some 
definite move is made in this direction, and 
people find out that there is really some 
idea of enforcing the law, it will not 
amount to anything.” 
The City Clerk says that, while the law is 
a State measure, no adequate means seem 
to have been provided by the Legislature 
for its enforcement. This has been left 
to the local authorities, and many of these 
have more ground now than they can 
thoroughly cover. For instance, in New 
York City the Inspectors of Weights and 
Measures are appointed by the Mayor. 
Bach one has his district, and is supposed 
to get over the territory at least once a 
year to inspect the weights and measures. 
Any cases of violation of this short-pack¬ 
age law that they meet in going their 
rounds are attended to. Also complaints 
sent to the City Clerk will have prompt 
attention by the inspectors in whoso dis¬ 
tricts they are. Several cases of this sort 
have been investigated, and the offenders 
dealt with where found guilty. 
FRUIT PROSPECTS. 
I think that strawberries are hardly equal 
to former years, either in acreage or con¬ 
dition. The excessive drought of last sea¬ 
son prevented new beds from forming 
properly, and many old patches from being 
cleaned out, which has diminished that 
acreage quite considerably. Early Harvest 
blackberries, the older plantations, are in¬ 
jured somewhat by Winter, but new plant¬ 
ings are looking line. JLucretla dewberries 
are fair on the whole, while Miller Red 
raspberry will be a light crop, caused by 
the poor wood growth made last season. 
On the whole l think prospects better than 
last season, but not as good as in former 
years. Peaches, pears and most varieties 
of apples promise well. c. b. 
Milford, Del. 
The acreage of strawberries is consider¬ 
ably smaller than in 1899, but plants are 
healthy and promise a full crop. The same 
is true of all small fruits, and in fact of 
tree fruits also. The weather during the 
blossoming period was never more favor¬ 
able and there is a magnificent prospect 
for the fruit crop of this Peninsula. 
Peaches, pears and plums are setting fine¬ 
ly. Apples now in blossom and every 
variety full. This Peninsula is likely to be 
the Mecca of fruit buyers this season. 
NpRANGE Co. Milk Producers—A meet¬ 
ing of milk producers was recently held 
at Goshen, Orange County, for the purpose 
of forming an organization. E. V. R. 
Gardner was chairman and J. E. Wells 
secretary. After considerable discussion 
it was voted to organize under tlie general 
plan of the Five States Milk Producers’ As¬ 
sociation, although it was expected that 
Orange County would form really an in¬ 
dependent organization. It was stated by 
representatives of the Five States Asso¬ 
ciation that progress is being made towards 
the actual sale of milk, and we hear the 
same report from other sources. No one 
yet seems ready to give any definite state¬ 
ment about it, but the general feeling is 
that when the farmers once absolutely se¬ 
cure control of the milk, they can sell it 
to better advantage. Another meeting will 
be held on May 15, at Goshen, to perfect 
the new organization. 
Machinery. 
A full llneofFi 
Ensilage C 
Fodder Shr 
ders, with Self-Fi 
Ensilage or Pi 
Tables. Strain 
away orSwivel Carrh 
Send for Catalogue u 
prices to 
J. K. WILDER A SOI 
Monroe, Mich. 
WROUGHT IRON PIPE 
For Steam, Gas and Water. Good as new. 
Tested, Re-painted, Re-threaded and coup¬ 
lings furnished. Ranging in lengths to 20 feet. 
ALL SIZES. WRITE FOR PRICES. 
Write for Free Catalogue No. *>7 of merchan¬ 
dise for HOME, FARM AND FIELD — 
and Receivers’ Sales. 
Rooting, KlumDing Material, Hardware, Cloth¬ 
ing, Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Tools, Ma- _ 
chinery,Ao.,Ac.. Ac.. AT HALF PRICE. 
W. 3ith & I in Sti, 
CHICAGO. 
_ x, 
from Sheriff s’ 
Roofing, Plumbini 
ing. Dry Goods, 1 
chinery, Ao„ Ac., <! 
Chicago House Wrecking Co . 1 
When baby comes to tlie home it will 
bind the wife closer to the husband, or 
it will gradually tend to cut her off from 
bis companship. A sickly mother loses 
in physical charm, and often in temper 
and disposition. A fretful child is a 
trial, even to loving parents. The use 
of Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription 
prepares the wife for motherhood. It 
strengthens the body, and induces a 
healthy condition of mind, free from 
anxiety or fear. It makes the baby’s 
advent practically painless. The mother 
being healthy her child is healthy, and 
a healthy child is a happy child, a joy 
to the parents, linking them together 
with a new bond of affection. 
There is no opium, cocaine or other 
narcotic in ” P'avorite Prescription.” 
" X read what your medicine has done for 
other people,” writes Mrs. E - ’win XI. Gardner, 
of Beech wood, Norfolk Co.. Mass., Box 70 , "so 
thought I would try it, and I found it a blessing 
to me and family. I took your medicine a 
year wlien I had a ten pound girl. I had tlie 
easiest time I ever had with any of my three 
children, and I have been very well ever since. 
I took three bottles of ‘ Favorite Prescription,’ 
three of ‘Golden Medical Discovery,’ and three 
vials of 1 Pellets.’ Before I took your medicine 
I only weighed 135 pounds, and now I weigh 
175 pounds.” 
Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets cure sick 
headache. 
The Domestic Sheep. 
rts Culture and General Management. 
By Henry Stewart. An up-to-date book 
on sheep. The most scientific, practical 
and useful book ever published on this 
subject. Indorsed by the world’s high¬ 
est authorities, press and sheep public 
everywhere. It contains 372 pages of 
“ boiled-down ” knowledge and 165 plates 
illustrating the recognized breeds and 
every department of sheep life. Price, 
$1.50 postpaid, or free for a club of four 
subscriptions at $1 each. 
PERSONALLY CONDUCTED 
TOURIST PARTIES TO 
California 
If you are going to California and wish 
to save expense, yet travel In safety and 
comfort, Investigate those “once-a-week 
parties.” They leavo every Wednesday 
from both Chicago and St. Louis, joining 
at Denver. Then past the grandest scenery 
in the world, over the Denver & llio Graudo 
Railroad. A few hours’ stop to see Salt 
Lake City, and on via Ogden and tho 
Southern Pacific Railway. A special agent 
is in charge of each party, and tho cars are 
comfortable and exquisitely clean. Write 
for a folder giving full particulars and send 
6 cents In postage for our beautifully illus¬ 
trated book on California. It is a work of art. 
P. S. EUSTIS, Gen’l Pass’r Agt., C. B. & Q. R. R. 
CHICAGO, ILL. 
Keystone Adjustable Weeder 
and Shallow Cultivator. 
Can be expanded to 7 % feet. Narrowed to 30 inches. 
Points of Superiority over a Straight Frame Weeder. 
It is adjustable both as to depth and width. Can be narrowei 
to .10 in., and expanded to 7% ft. When narrowed up to 30 in 
xt can be used between the rows, working close to the plants— 
long after sti’aig'ht-frame Weeders are .set aside. Beinj 
A-shaped it is not only stronger, but adapts itself much bette: 
to uneven surface than a straight frame weeder. It lias n< 
shafts, therefore no horse lost motion, and will not jump. Teetl 
are strong and pliable, and have blunt points, which is im 
portant when working sensitive plants. 
Write for Weeder Booklet. 
Kevstone Farm Machine Co., York Pa., 
10 styles of Corn Planters, all 
arranged so that operator can 
always see the corn dropping. 
12 styles of Cultivators with 
all latest improvements. 
20 styles of Corn Shellers; also 
Harrows, Field Rollers, Feed 
Cutters, etc. 
Write for Descriptive Circulars and 
SAVE MONEY. 
