1902 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
i9 
TOMATO PRICES AT CANNING FACTORIES. 
The newspapers report that the farmers in southern 
New Jersey are making a determined effort to have the 
canners advance the price paid for tomatoes from $5 to 
$8 per ton. We do not understand that a “strike” has 
been organized yet. The following statement of the case 
seems fair: 
The farmers have for years claimed that the price 
was too low, while the packers claimed that the price 
must be a remunerative one, as they were without 
difficulty able to secure contracts for all they needed 
at that figure, and that they would not be able to do 
this if the crop did not pay the farmer at least as 
well as any other farm crop. This would seem a 
convincing argument, but I have noticed that each 
year sees more or less of the tomato growers declin¬ 
ing to make contracts—either ceasing to grow them, 
or taking the chances of the open market. These 
gaps in the ranks of contract growers have been filled 
by new comers who desire to try the business. The 
packers advance many arguments on'their side—the 
low price of their product, the loss by extraordinarily 
heavy deliveries, the fierce competition in the busi¬ 
ness, etc. The last season was almost a failure, and 
as a consequence the profits to the grower were nil, 
and too frequently the balance was on the wrong side 
of the account. The packer, on the other hand, pro¬ 
vided he had not made contracts for the sale of his 
output at the prevailing low prices of the beginning 
of the season, reaped a rich harvest from the enor¬ 
mous rise in price, at least 50 per cent. If, however, 
he had made such a contract, and his commission 
merchant held h m strictly to it, in cases where his 
capital was limited it came pretty near spelling ruin 
for him, for as a rule, he was unable to fill three- 
fourths of his cans, and to do even this was com¬ 
pelled to purchase in the open market at prices aver¬ 
aging nearer $20 per ton than $5. 
To the onlooker it does not seem an unreasonable 
demand of the farmers to ask $8 per ton. While $5 
per ton (about 12 cents per bushel or eight cents per 
basket) is certainly a small price, and one that can 
scarcely pay for the labor alone of production and de¬ 
livery in the best of seasons, it is entirely inadequate 
in the seasons of the past few years. I am not pre¬ 
pared to say that tomatoes are “running out,” but it 
looks somewhat as though that were the case; cer¬ 
tainly no grower is justified in expecting as good 
average results as he could a few years since. The 
increased cost (probably five-eighths of a cent per can) 
would not be taken from the profits of the packer, 
but in all cases must be paid by the consumer in an 
increased price; though as a matter of fact, the prin¬ 
cipal part of it would fall on the retail dealer. The 
packer would not be injured. He, however, desires 
naturally to produce his product at the lowest pos¬ 
sible price, since the lower he can sell the more he 
can sell. In the light of all the circumstances I can 
but think the demands of the farmers just, although 
I do not subscribe to the doctrine that it is always 
right, or the best policy even, to exact all that you 
can get. I believe in a fair price to the grower, the 
packer and the consumer. The next question natur¬ 
ally is: “Will they succeed in securing their de¬ 
mands.” In answer to this l can only say “that de¬ 
pends.” If they can stick together and simply say: 
“That is our price—if you can give it all right, we 
will grow your tomatoes; if not, we will grow some¬ 
thing else,” there can 'be no question as to the result. 
But that if is an awfully big one, and if you ask me 
“Will they stick ”—I can only answer “I don’t know” 
—they never have. R. l. iiowf.lt.. 
FUTURE PRICE OF POTATOES. 
The variance in .the price of potatoes is very diffi¬ 
cult to account for, and dealers confess themselves 
unable to forestall market movements. One dealer 
loaded 1,800 bushels at 40 cents, and sold the same at 
an advance of five cent. A second bought 10 car¬ 
loads at 45 cents, selling as fast as a car was loaded 
for a three cent commission per bushel. “Why do 
you not fill up your cellar?” I asked. “That is specu¬ 
lation—we buy on business principles,” he replied. I 
knew at that very time he was storing cabbage by 
the carload for Spring market. To tell the honest 
truth he did no,t dare store potatoes at 45 cents, and 
in 10 days after they were paying 75 cents. This 
illustrates the uncertainty among men who make a 
business of knowing. 
In a few small areas there are now as large stocks 
back, as at this time last year, but such spots are 
scarce, and these are mostly market or table grades. 
Seed stock is very scarce, and prices, which are usu¬ 
ally higher than for eating, must be higher than 
usual. I do not expect them to be as high as they 
were once in Colorado, $200 per sack, and think $3 
per barrel may be the average paid to the growers, 
for when you get above that, growers will use any¬ 
thing they can get or have on hand. It is poor prac¬ 
tice, but high prices always cut off the sales. Early 
potatoes were a poor crop, and .the high prices of early 
eating potatoes tempted growers to part with them, 
increasing the scarcity. The September report of the 
United (States says .the average condition of potatoes 
for 10 years is 78.8 per cent, and that for same date, 
1901, it was 52.2; 1900, it was 80. In any ordinary 
case there is no reason why potatoes should not be 
high until the point is reached where other foodJs will 
be used instead, and importations begin to be profit¬ 
able. The December report shows a nearly uniform 
price in all sections, showing that the shortage is not 
a local one. Evidently there need not be any fear 
of western stock flooding eastern markets. Most deal¬ 
ers believe that there are no large stocks stored in the 
cities, and prices are relatively higher in the country 
than in the towns. Many farmers in the so-called 
non-producing potato counties tell me they will have 
to buy for both table and seed use. A shipment of 
65,000 bushels for Europe seems a large one, but 
made no difference in price, but if the “outsiders” 
continue that game it will have to be included in the 
deal. It is said they are used as ballast, and the cost 
for transportation is very small. If the farmers do 
not "go wild” and continue a steady selling, everybody 
should be able to get good prices. Should too many 
hold back, forcing the price too high for consumption, 
decreasing the demand, Spring may find as many as 
usual on the market. Usually February, with cold 
spells to check the supply, has been a favorable month 
to sell. 
With the prices prevailing, there is less sorting, and 
considerable stock is taken that in other years would 
be refused. There were many fields where stock was 
isrnall and scabby—which give but few merchantable 
tubers. Where a fairly good yield was obtained the 
stock is above par in appearance and quality and 
there is no shrinkage; in fact, it is good enough for 
seed if it were pure, but not one farmer in fifty brings 
a load to the car which does not contain from two to 
seven varieties. Straight unmixed stock is very 
scarce. c. e. chapman. 
A SATISFACTORY DAIRY BARN. 
1 have been an interested reader of the several 
articles on the construction and arrangement of farm 
barns published from time to time in The R. N.-Y., 
and prospective builders can get some helpful ideas 
therefrom. It is impracticable sometimes to follow 
exact plans herein laid down. Everyone must adjust 
them to suit the environment; always keeping in 
mind the old adage that “good calculation is better 
than hard work.” This applies with special force to 
the dairy barn, for with the indispensable silo and 
the consequent change in the feeding of the dairy, 
radical changes are seen in the construction of the 
buildings. Of first and last importance is calcula¬ 
tion; the hard work will be in evidence on the dairy 
farm as well as elsewhere, therefore construct with 
an eye to convenience, build to save labor in feeding 
and watering the stock, and cleaning the stables. A 
few steps saved now means many miles saved in the 
course of time, and a short lift saves a man’s back. 
Handy buildings make the work pleasant. Several 
silos were put up recently in this vicinity in connec¬ 
tion with old barns, and almost without exception 
the silo was built out away from the barn, and some¬ 
times to one side of the stable, necessitating the 
carrying for considerable distances of the silage when 
feeding. This is a grave mistake, as it is heavy stuff, 
and the job is an everyday one for a large part of 
the feeding season. By all means if possible build 
the silo on the shortest line to the mangers; have the 
cows head in, if there are two rows in the barn, thus 
being able to feed both sides of the feeding alley at 
once. Use a four-wheeled truck with a box holding 
20 bushels or more, and by this means all carrying 
is done away with, work is easier, and time saved. 
The plan at Fig. 11 shows accommodations for 40 
cows, five horses, box stalls, granary, carriage room, 
silo and storage for forage, etc. In this case the main 
barn fronts north; cow barn runs north and south, 
with silo at south end, making a warm sheltered yard 
on southeast side. It is very convenient; that is the 
point, and the idea is not to lay down any fixed plan, 
but to emphasize the need of convenience in barn 
construction. The main barn is 84x36 feet, 16-foot 
posts, and beginning at the east end is divided as fol¬ 
lows: Bay 16x36, thrashing floor 15x36, carriage room 
and drive 30x36. This is also used for workshop, 
where tools are repaired and odd jobs are done. From 
this room the horse stalls and granary are entered, 
making it handy to drive in to unhitch, and also to 
unload grain. The ceiling of the horse and carriage 
rooms is nine feet in clear, with spacious storage 
room above. Doors leading from granary and horse 
stalls enter an alley from which open two box stalls, 
each 10x12 feet. Granary is also connected directly 
with feeding alley of the dairy barn, which is 28x65 
feet with 16-foot posts, stable ceiling being eight feet 
in clear with storage above. The feeding alley in the 
center is about eight feet wide, and is of dressed lum¬ 
ber, no mangers; fodder is put down from above 
through three openings, each end and center. 
The most striking convenience in comparison with 
detached sil®s is the location of the silo, which is at 
the end of the stable, directly in line with the feeding 
alley, but cut off from same by enclosed alley for en¬ 
trance and exit of cows, thereby obviating the objec¬ 
tions of some of having direct connection between 
silo and stable. A chute down the side of silo deliv¬ 
ers the silage into the truck, and is taken directly in 
front of the cows and fed out with a scoop shovel 
One end of the truck being open it is easy to shovel. 
Notice that as the feeder delivers his load of silage he 
is constantly nearing the granary, and when all fed 
out can reload with the necessary amount of grain 
and return, finishing where he began, and leaving the 
truck at the silo ready for future use. Enclosing the 
silo and extending same width as barn is a shed, used 
below for manure and above for storage. This, while 
not a necessity, is a valuable addition, and pays good 
interest on the investment. M. t. w. 
SOUND SENSE ABOUT COW PEAS. 
There are a large number of farmers who are land 
poor. They plant large fields year after year with 
perhaps a little fertilizer to start the crop, raising 
crops which in some instances hardly pay for har¬ 
vesting. Supposing a man intended planting 10 acres 
of corn, let him take five of it for corn, putting all 
the fertilizer intended for the 10 acres on five; give 
extra cultivation, and about June 1 sow the other five 
acres to cow peas to plow down either Spring or Fall. 
Ten chances to one he will get as much value on five 
acres the first year as formerly on 10. The second 
year his cow-pea ground would give him more value 
on five acres than on 10 without them. Cow peas are 
just as valuable for potatoes as corn, and will also 
make large crops of grain. I have grown them three 
or four years previous to last season, but never had 
seed ripen in quantity before. The above remarks 
apply to all light and leacby lands, and any land 
deficient in humus, especially side hills and back lands 
where it would be practically impossible to haul 
stable manure even if one had plenty. On land near 
large cities, where stable manure is cheap and land 
high priced, they would not prove as valuable unless 
land was manure sick; in that case I think cow peas 
would prove as valuable as clover, as the vines make 
good food either green or dry, and the roots and 
stubble leave the isoil very loose and friable, also 
darkens the soil, like a clover sod plowed down, but 
they decay much quicker. As an instance of this, 
about July 10, 1900, I plowed down an old strawberry 
patch, sowing one-half to Hungarian grass and the 
remainder to cow peas, mowing the whole for mulch 
about September 1. In fitting the ground the next 
April for strawberries one could easily tell which was 
cow-pea ground, there being hardly a trace of old 
strawberry roots or crowns on the part where the 
latter grew. Indeed the difference was so greatly in 
favor of cow peas that the men planting strawberries 
remarked on it. e. m. h. 
Springfield, Mass. 
CRIMSON CLOVER.—Do not attempt sowing the seed 
on soil that is wet and heavy, and liable to heave, for 
no matter how large a top you get it will pull out, as 
it is a surface feeder, quite unlike its associate Red 
clover, which has a tap root, while Crimson has none. 
Do not sow later than September 1 in northern New York; 
August 1 is better. I usually sow in corn or tobacco, at 
last cultivation, being careful to avoid covering too deep, 
as this will prove fatal. Be sure to get American-grown 
seed, as foreign seed will not germinate more than half, 
and is not reliable. After the crop is removed I use a 
liberal application of a fertilizer containing eight per 
cent potash and 10 per cent phosphoric acid, which gives 
me a good growth in Fall, which is quite essential in 
order to withstand our northern Winters. I have now 
lVa acre of Crimson clover which I intend to plow under 
for tobacco. It covers the ground like a perfect mat, 
and will amply repay for all trouble incurred. w. f. b. 
Lysander, N. Y. 
