1902 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
4t 
WEST AND SOUTH FOR APPLES. 
Prospects at Kansas City. 
At present there is no movement in apples, except in 
a local way, on account of it being so soon after the holi¬ 
days; in a week or two the demand for carloads will be¬ 
gin. The supply here is ample for the demand, especially 
if holders insist on keeping prices up to where they had 
them before Christmas. Our cold storage houses were 
tilled to their fullest capacity, and we think that not one- 
third of the stock has been taken out. The apples that 
bring the highest prices here are Jonathan, Winesap, 
Willowtwig, Missouri Pippin, Gano, and Ben Davis; com¬ 
mencing with Jonathan, which brings from $4 to $4.50 per 
barrel, the next three varieties, in order named, bring 
from $4 to $3.75, and last but not least, Ben Davis brings 
from $3.50 to $3.75. This last variety, together with the 
Gano, will be the principle commercial apple in this 
western country, because, first, they seldom fail of a 
crop; and second, on account of their color, size and 
keeping qualities. The southern trade also likes the Gano 
and Ben Davis. As to packages, the three-bushel barrel 
will be the favorite for these two varieties; boxes are 
being used more and more every year, but here in the 
West they are only used for the best variety of fancy 
fruit. As to the probable increase of the apple industry 
in our city, will say the prospects are good; the increase 
of acreage in fruit trees contiguous to Kansas City is 
growing every year. Our cold storage facilities, now in 
the course of construction, will be increased at least 
50 per cent, and in a few years Kansas City will not only 
be the center of the United States geographically, but she 
will be the center of the largest apple industry in the 
world. c. CLEMONS & co 
Kansas City. Mo. 
The Apple Trade in the West. 
The crop of apples throughout most sections in the 
West was much better than was indicated earlier In the 
season; in fact, the crop was a good one. The general 
quality, however, was poor, owing, it would seem, to the 
dry weather and the extreme heat. There were a great 
many apples stored, and a good many of them are still 
on hand in the cold storage houses. The quality, generally 
speaking, of those still on hand is poor. There are some 
good apples. The holiday trade was not as good as was 
anticipated. Prices ruled quite high, and this curtailed 
consumption considerably. The movement was not as 
good as it was hoped to be, and holders of apples find 
themselves with more stock on hand, unsold, than they 
had hoped. The trade at the present time is exceedingly 
quiet. The holiday trade is over, and the market is 
easier. At present ruling prices the trade does not seem to 
care to take hold. Apples generally cost high prices, 
and the extreme prices curtail the trade very much. We 
believe, from what we can learn from various parties 
interested in the trade, that there are more apples on 
hand now than the authorities generally think. We know 
that this is true in the West, and we further believe that 
prices must go lower before this surplus can be moved 
out and consumed. Oranges are going to be low in price 
this Spring, not only in California, but also in Florida, 
and this affects the price on apples to some extent; to 
a greater extent, we believe, than the trade thinks. The 
general impression is that no money has been made on 
apples up to the present time at the price at which they 
were purchased last Fall, and that prices must rule higher 
to let the holders out. This does not seem possible at 
the present time, nor do we believe that prices will be 
such as to enable us to close with a satisfactory season’s 
business in apples. There are still a good many apples in 
the West on hand, in cold storage houses, both cold and 
open storage, asking buyers, and quality generally is poor. 
St. Louis, Mo. MILLER & TEASDALE CO. 
The Apple Trade of New Orleans. 
For several years past the apple which seems to take 
preeminence in this market is the Ben Davis, and although 
experienced handlers know its true merit, or rather de¬ 
merit, as an eating apple, for several reasons it at ways 
takes the preference with the shipping trade, as also with 
the general local fruit trade at this point. In our climate 
it has been found that the Ben Davis will stand up better 
in keeping quality and appearance than any other apple 
grown or shipped here. We have such varied changes, 
so much humidity, with severe changes to hot, sultry 
weather, that other varieties will change color rapidly 
when opened for sale, giving them in a short time an 
almost unsalable appearance, and the Ben Davis being a 
rather hard apple, will stand rough treatment in ship¬ 
ping to the country better than most others. Added to 
this, is the general request for a red apple for country 
shipping orders. A good deal of this demand comes from 
the main consumers in the surrounding country; that is, 
the negro population, who seem to prefer a red apple or 
one with plenty of color. Regular handlers, and some of 
our best local trade know well the merits of the superior 
eating varieties, such as are preferred in the North, but 
under the circumstances as stated, we, as receivers down 
here, have no choice in the matter, but must cater to the 
taste and whims of the trade, and give them what they 
call for. In usual and ordinary seasons, like last year, 
our trade uses almost an equal amount of New York 
Baldwins as Ben Davis, but this season, with no crop in 
the East to speak of, the demand is wholly for Ben Davis, 
with some trade also for nice Winesap, Jonathan or other 
red varieties, but totally ignoring, this or other seasons, 
any such varieties as Greenings, Pippins, and other yel¬ 
low or yellow blush apples. 
We usually receive a good many cars of box apples 
from the Pacific coast annually, this season being no 
exception, but although the apples, mainly Ben Davis, 
which we have received this season from Oregon and 
Washington, have been unusually fine, they have not met 
with the demand of other seasons, and the same thing 
applies to the demand for quite a number of cars of fancy 
Bellflowers in boxes, which came from California. This 
feature is peculiar, and shows some fickleness attending 
the apple trade at this point, as in certain years the 
box ‘package takes favorably here, but never shows the 
preference over the standard barrel package, due mainly 
to the fact that two-thirds of the receipts of apples re¬ 
ceived here are reshipped out on orders to the surround¬ 
ing country. We do not at this time think that much can 
be done in the way of endeavor to increase or enlarge 
the trade in apples at this point; in fact, this market has 
shown itself for many years past to be for its size one 
of the largest apple receiving cities in the United States, 
the sales of apples during the regular and heavy months, 
such as September to April, running all the way from one 
car to eight cars daily. Sales just at this time approxi¬ 
mate from two to three cars daily, with prices on Ben 
Davis ranging from $4 to $4.75 per barrel. There has been 
some trade opened up this season with Cuban ports on 
apples, each steamer taking out some supplies, and there 
is a likelihood that with due judgment and precaution 
taken in filling the orders now being received from these 
ports, the same business in another year will assume quite 
large proportions. Added to this foreign demand, we also 
note a growing demand for apples from Central American 
ports, to which ports we have almost daily sailings by 
banana steamers, running regularly to this port. It is 
our opinion that we shall see during the next three or 
four months a very good demand for apples down here, 
predicated somewhat, however, on the ruling figures from 
time to time. The indications point at this time to steady 
but no higher prices for the remainder of the season 
than are now ruling at large storage points in the West, 
which hold the bulk of supplies of the country. Any en¬ 
deavor on the part of holders to manipulate prices to a 
higher pitch than they are now quoted will mean a ma¬ 
terial curtailment of the demand, and consequent disas¬ 
ter later in the season, when there is the usual scamper 
to unload. If our advice is worth anything to any holder 
of apples, it would be to take advantage of the present 
prices and conditions to sell right along. 
New Orleans, La. geo. w. davison & co. 
EVENTS OF THE WEtK. 
DOMESTIC.—More than 100 cases of smallpox are re¬ 
ported in the State Asylum for Feeble Minded Children 
at Lincoln, 111. In addition to this diphtheria and chick- 
enpox are also present. The institution shelters more 
than 1,000 children, as well as 183 officers and assistants. 
Most of the smallpox cases are mild.The Great 
Northern Railroad Company has begun an extensive cam¬ 
paign among the farmers of Indiana, Illinois and other 
States of the Central West, with the object of securing 
them as settlers for northern Minnesota and North Da¬ 
kota.The steamer Walla Walla was wrecked 
in the Pacific January 2, after a collision with a French 
bark; 42 lives lost. There were 144 persons on board. 
.... A fire in a coffin factory at Chicago, Ill., January 
4, caused a loss of $247,000.An epidemic of small¬ 
pox at Hackettstown, N. J., has put the entire town in 
quarantine.January 8, a disastrous rear-end 
collision occurred between two passenger trains in the 
Park Avenue tunnel, near the Grand Central Station, 
New York City; 15 persons killed, and 30 injured. 
ADMINISTRATION.—This Government will not become 
a party to a plan of Pan-American compulsory arbitration 
even if its attitude leads to the disruption of the Pan- 
American Congress now in session in the City of Mexico. 
This Government is anxious to promote the general prin¬ 
ciples of arbitration, but it is opposed to any arrangement 
which will bind it to submit to arbitration all claims of 
its citizens against Central and South American countries, 
as proposed by the representatives of some of those coun¬ 
tries. Our position is dictated by the fact that so far no 
feasible scheme of compulsory arbitration that would be 
fair or businesslike has been advanced, and there is no 
hope that an acceptable scheme can be devised, and the 
State Department feels that such a treaty would not be 
ratified by the Senate.The Panama Canal Com¬ 
pany declares itself ready to transfer to the United 
States, on the payment of $40,000,000, its properties and 
concessions connected with the Panama route across the 
isthmus. The proposal has been placed in the hands of 
the President. Both Houses resumed business January 6. 
January 7 the House began the consideration of the Nica¬ 
ragua Canal bill, the debate being opened by Mr. Hepburn. 
For two hours he held the floor, replying to a volley of 
questions concerning the recent offer of the Panama Canal 
Company to sell its property and franchises to the United 
States for $40,000,000. The interest in the debate centered 
almost entirely on this phase of the subject. 
CUBA.—Gen. Estrada Palma has been elected President 
of Cuba. Election for Senators and Presidential Electors 
will occur February 15 and February 24. The question as 
to when the Cuban Government is to be inaugurated 
has not yet been settled, and if there should follow this 
election any demonstrations by the Cubans indicative of 
unwillingness to accept it as final, such demonstrations 
will increase the reluctance of Congress to order the 
withdrawal of troops and the transfer of the Cuban Gov¬ 
ernment. No reciprocity will be given to Cuba until it is 
known that there is a government with which to recipro¬ 
cate. If the Cubans cannot organize a government, Con¬ 
gress will have to adopt some other means of aiding the 
commerce of the island while it remains under American 
control. Any reciprocity measure will have its origin in 
the House. The Senate leaders will not take the initia¬ 
tive in a question which closely affects the revenues. 
PHILIPPINES.—Owing to the prevalence of smallpox, 
the Civil Commission has prepared an act for the com¬ 
pulsory vaccination of residents of the islands. 
The War Department is in receipt of a remarkable docu¬ 
ment, sent from the Philippines, in which nine Ameri¬ 
cans, seven of whom are in the United States military 
service,, call upon American soldiers to desert and lead 
a life of ease and luxury with the Filipinos. It is said that 
all the signatures were obtained under duress, the petition 
having been prepared by the Filipinos. 
FARM AND GARDEN.—The annual meeting of the 
Maritime Stock Breeders’ Association was held at Am¬ 
herst, Nova Scotia, December 19 last. The following of¬ 
ficers were reelected for 1902: President, E. B. Elderkin, 
Amherst; vice-president for Nova Scotia, Charles A. Arch¬ 
ibald, Tfuro; vice-president for New Brunswick, Col. H. 
M. Campbell, Apohaqui. J. W. Callbeek, Augustine Cove, 
was elected vice-president for Prince Edward Island. 
The California Creamery Operators’ Association opened 
its annual convention at San Francisco December 20. 
Sir Joseph Henry Gilbert, long associated with the late 
Sir J. B. Lawes in his agricultural experiments at Roth- 
amsted, England, died December 23. He was born at Hull 
on August 1. 1817. In 1843 he began a special study of ag¬ 
ricultural chemistry and physiology, and it is with his re¬ 
searches into this subject that his name has been chiefly 
connected since then. In 1882 and 1884 Sir Joseph visited 
Canada and the United States, traveling over wide areas, 
in order to study the conditions of agriculture in America. 
In 1884 he was appointed Sibthorpian Professor of Rural 
Economy at Oxford, which position he held until 1890. 
In 1893 he received the honor of knighthood. He was a 
member of a great number of learned societies, and re¬ 
ceived decorations from the French, German and other 
governments. Various universities conferred honorary 
degrees on him. 
The annual convention of the Colorado State Horti¬ 
cultural Society will be held in Denver January 21-23. 
The Ohio State Dairymen’s Association has secured ex¬ 
cursion rates of a fare and a third, on the certificate 
plan, from all points in Ohio, to their annual meeting at 
Townshend Hall, Columbus, February 5-7. This promises 
to be the best meeting ever held in Ohio. Special induce¬ 
ments are offered to creameries and cheese factories send¬ 
ing the largest per cent of their patrons to the meeting. 
Send for programme and particulars to James S. Devol, 
secretary, Marietta, Ohio. 
The forty-seventh annual meeting of the Western New 
York Horticultural Society will occur at Rochester Janu¬ 
ary 22-23. A valuable programme is assured. 
OUTLOOK FOR SEED POTATOES. 
will command a high price. The price was so high for 
eating early in the season that they were sold for eating. 
Late varieties are more plentiful, but I should say for 
seed good clean, true stock would bring about $3 per 
barrel. c. R white. 
Ionia, N. Y. 
Early varieties average but little, if any, over one-fourth 
crop; later sorts much better. Prices dropped at harvest 
time from 90 to 60 cents; they are quoted in local markets 
at 60 to 80 cents now. I am unable to judge as to the 
amount on hand. Conditions favor a higher price for 
early seed. g. a. hisey. 
Republic, Ohio. 
I he seed prospects for potatoes are as good as any 
year previous, and there is no visible shortage. A great 
many have been sold, but fully half the crop is still on 
hand. The crop in this section was larger than usual, 
and the heaviest growers are holding for higher prices, 
but the buyers all think they are going to be lower, and 
that seed will bring from 50 cents to 75 cents, possibly 
less. There are very few early potatoes, most of the 
crop being late varieties. E . l. lyman. 
Bancroft, Mich. 
The potato crop of 1901 was a fair one in the Red River 
Valley, and the demand for seed from the South and 
Southwest has been excellent. I think 75 per cent of the 
crop has been sold; perhaps more. Dealers realized from 
70 to 90 cents per bushel on cars here during the Fall, 
and they expect higher prices in the Spring. The above 
prices were for Red River Early Ohio; Bliss Triumph 
bi ought about 20 cents per bushel more. Farmers gen¬ 
erally are very prosperous, putting up good buildings, 
improving their stock, and changing into a diversified 
system of farming. geo. w. bilsborrow. 
Woiverton, Minn. 
In this section the seed potato crop is short; owing to 
the heavy rains during the planting season many rotted. 
What we have are fine. Prices will be higher than last 
season for seed; $3.75 to $5 per barrel for 1902, about 50 
cents per barrel higher than 1901; eating potatoes, $3.75 
per barrel; $4 to $5 for early kinds for seed; eating po¬ 
tatoes much higher than this time last year; $1 per 
bushel in local market. A very short crop of late po¬ 
tatoes, not over one-third of a crop; very few on hand; 
only medium stock of early potatoes on hand. There 
will be no stock of any kind for northern markets for 
eating at all in this county. j. w. hall. 
Marion Sta., Md. 
I think there are potatoes enough in the country to 
supply all demands for seed. Supply and demand will, of 
course, govern the price. I do not think that they will 
go any higher until Spring, if then. Potatoes were a good 
crop in this town; will probably average 125 bushels per 
acre. I should think that half of the crop has been 
shipped out; the rest as yet in dealers' and 'grocers’ 
hands. As nearly as I can find out, potatoes are keeping 
well in this town, but I hear of considerable complaint 
in neighboring counties of rot. Potatoes as yet in this 
vicinity are about all of the late varieties. Early ones 
were nearly a total failure on account of early blight. 1 
think there will be a large demand for seed in the Spring, 
for it is usually the case when they are high in price 
that there will be a large acreage planted. 
Clifton Springs, N. Y. j. g. Herman. 
I believe that good seed potatoes will be much scarcer 
than for years. Many fields rotted so badly that they 
were hurried to market as fast as dug, some carrying off 
the entire crop. The yield of late potatoes was about 
an average crop (100 to 200 bushels per acre), but the rot 
cut it down perhaps one-third. There are some being 
held over, but they were from fields that indicated but 
little rot. We think prices must be quite a little higher 
than usual. However, it will depend upon the crop in 
other portions of the country largely, but judging from 
reports from the West, there will be no potatoes to come 
from that quarter except at very high figures. Good 
seed potatoes, in our opinion, will bring about $1.25 to 
$1.50 per bushel; certainly not less than $1. There is, we 
think, a very small stock of early varieties on hand, as 
they were a poor crop generally. The stock of late 
varieties is perhaps two-thirds the amount held over 
last year, with quite a number rotting in cellars. 
Garbutt, N. Y. d. c. m'pherson. 
