1902 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
601 
MARKET NOTES 
HOMOLOGICAL BLACK SHEEP.—On 
this page Mr. Stubenrauch says: “We have 
too many sorry varieties now.” This is 
worth remembering by all fruit planters 
and nurserymen. There is no harm in ex¬ 
perimenting with all kinds of Tom, Dick 
and Harry varieties, but for commercial 
planting only those of known merit should 
be used. The fruit trade of any section is 
injured by every dose of poor stuff that is 
poured into it. In looking over the fruit 
markets of this city day after day these 
“sorry varieties” are always seen, apples, 
pears, peaches, plums, etc., that are en¬ 
tirely lacking in desirable qualities. Many 
are bad naturally; others have merit when 
grown under proper soil and climatic con¬ 
ditions. 
MELON PRICES.—“How much for 
those?” asked a man in a Broadway fruit 
store which has the name of selling ex¬ 
cellent stuff, pointing to a box of musk- 
melons. “Two dollars a dozen,” was the 
reply. The buyer took half a dozen. In 
another place a short distance away melons 
that looked just as good were selling six 
for 25 cents. Why did the Duyer pay $1 
for half a dozen melons, when he could 
have got the same number, apparently just 
as good, for 25 cents? Merely because he 
felt sure that the first lot were as fine as 
could be had. No doubt he had had ex¬ 
perience with worthless melons and knew 
that it was practically impossible to judge 
by appearance. We know of no fruit that 
is more uncertain to buy than muskmelons. 
Even the individuals grown in the same 
patch may vary greatly. Probably those 
grown by irrigation in Colorado and New 
Mexico come nearer to being uniform than 
any others that we get. Of the two fruit 
dealers above mentioned the first takes 
pride in selling the best that he can get, 
and expects that customers who can af¬ 
ford to pay his prices will stick to him. 
The other looks only for transient trade, 
and the buyer runs his own risk. 
MIXED UP.—That is the condition in 
which Washington Street through the com¬ 
mission house district has been for over a 
week. The whole city seems to have a 
perennial street-digging fever, and the epi¬ 
demic has just reached this market sec¬ 
tion, where the old horse cars are to be 
replaced by an electric road. Washington 
Street in this vicinity is not wide enough 
to accommodate the necessary traffic in a 
busy time—when there is no rubbish in the 
way; but with a big ditch in the middle of 
the road and piles of dirt and paving stones 
on either side, the commission men are 
working under difficulties. There really 
should be no cars on this market street. 
It would be no great hardship for those 
who wished to take a car to walk one 
block east or west. So extensive a busi¬ 
ness as handling the fruits, vegetables and 
provisions of this down-town west side is 
worthy of more elbow room. The city au¬ 
thorities appear to have entirely neglected 
making adequate market provisions for 
the great amount of business in this line 
that must be carried on here. We think 
that the buying public would appreciate a 
market like the Reading Terminal in Phila¬ 
delphia, clean, roomy and protected from 
the dust of the street. 
KINKS IN SELLING.—On page 603 Mr. 
Cook speaks of an interesting but not un¬ 
usual experience in selling farm produce. 
Competition may be the life of trade, but 
it is also the hotbed of any quantity of 
schemes for rooting out opponents. By¬ 
standers are usually supposed to sympa¬ 
thize with the under dog or cat in a tooth- 
and-nail argument, but with the consum¬ 
ing public the underling in the race for 
trade gets little patronage and less sym¬ 
pathy. Retail butchers who have dared 
oppose the dictum of the meat combine 
during the current season could tell many 
tales of woe. In some cases a new meat 
shop backed by the big packers freezes out 
the old-stand butcher before one realizes 
what is being done. The better class of 
produce commission men do not favor such 
methods. A business built up by experi¬ 
enced men through many years of fair 
dealing has a strong hold on the country 
districts. New concerns often spring up 
and take trade away from them tempor¬ 
arily by apparently paying a premium for 
a few lots of stuff, but they usually man¬ 
age to steal enough in one way or another 
to more than cover the premium, and the 
shipper is glad to come back to the man 
who has dealt fairly with him. It is nat¬ 
ural for the buyer to want to buy as 
cheaply as he can, and for the seller to 
want to get all he can. Some sort of aver¬ 
age is generally safest. Extremes on either 
side are likely to turn out to be extremes 
in name only, rather than in actual values. 
APPLE COMPARISON PROPOSED. 
Referring to an editorial in issue of Au¬ 
gust 2, a correspondent suggests that at 
fruit growers’ meetings similar packages 
Pf Pacific coast and eastern apples be ex¬ 
hibited for camparison. It would hardly 
seem that a comparison of the apples is 
necessary, as we think it is generally ac¬ 
knowledged that for quality the Pacific 
coast apples are not equal to those grown 
in the East. \V e hardly think that the 
most enthusiastic California or Oregon 
apple man will claim that his product 
averages anywhere near so high in quality 
as apples grown in central New York or 
the Lake Champlain district. These west¬ 
ern men, however, have made a success in 
neat and handy packages. Some of them 
may not be adapted to the needs of eastern 
growers, but it would be a matter of inter¬ 
est at least to have on hand at fruit meet¬ 
ings the regular boxes or crates in which 
far western fresh fruits reach eastern mar • 
kets. These packages would be new to 
many who do not often visit the larger 
markets, and might furnish helpful sug¬ 
gestions. Probably these packages can be 
found in the nearest large town, but if the 
authorities in charge of any institute or 
fruit meeting wish to make such an ex¬ 
hibit and find it difficult to get the pack¬ 
ages, the writer of these notes will be glad 
to send from this market typical empty 
packages to those who care to pay the ex¬ 
press charges to their place. Such request 
should be made a week or more in ad¬ 
vance of meeting. w. w. h. 
TRUCK FARMING IN CUBA. 
In the Spring of 1899 one American took 
up some land in Guines and began a new 
industry for Cuba. He commenced opera¬ 
tions too late to accomplish anything that 
season but contributed his share of mis¬ 
takes to the inevitable number that must 
be committed by people working out a 
problem in a strange land. 
In the Fall of 1899 five Americans rented 
a farm in this same place and began In 
good season to prepare their land for the 
crops they intended growing. They were 
not overburdened with money, and could 
not carry on their work on a large scale, 
but they demonstrated the fact that the 
early vegetables that have been heretofore 
sent to New York from the Southern States 
could be grown here any month of the year 
and could be shipped to New Yoi'k more 
quickly and more economically than from 
Florida. But the railroad people would not 
give them good rates; in fact, appeared to 
wish to crush the “infant industry” and 
the growers were compelled to haul their 
stuff 30 odd miles to Havana, in order to 
ship it without delay and at a reasonable 
cost. When the season for planting came 
around the next year (1900) the Pan-Ameri¬ 
can Express Co. offered to make through 
bill of lading to New York from the farms 
and though the rate quoted was high, it 
saved the time of the trucker coming to 
Havana and seeing personally to his ship¬ 
ments, and the truckers made a better 
showing for their season’s work. The next 
year (1901) saw several more Americans lo¬ 
cated at Guines, and the business having 
attained some size, the railroad made ar¬ 
rangements about forwarding the freight 
to the steamers and reduced their rates. 
The truckers had learned the peculiarities 
of .soil and climate, and as a result sent 
forward a good lot of stuff, and went to the 
States in June for well-earned vacations, 
with well-filled pockets and a good balance 
left over for this year’s operations. 
Now we are just beginning operations. 
Many new men have taken up tracts of 
land varying from 10 to 150 acres, and 
plowing is going on briskly, with a prom¬ 
ise that the season of 1902-3 will see enough 
truck sent out of Cuba to the northern 
markets to create an impression. I doubt 
whether the small quantities that have 
gone forward so far have attracted much 
notice. 
While at first the only men who went 
into trucking here came from Florida. I 
notice that now they are coming from the 
Northern States. One from Chicago has 
just taken lease of 150 acres at Manil, and 
has a dozen teams at work plowing. This 
is, by the way, a new place for trucking— 
there is no irrigation there, as at Guines, 
but the land is good near the sea level 
with plenty of water a few feet below the 
surface, and unfailing winds for windmill 
pumping if desired. It is only 20 miles 
from Havana by water, and shipments 
will be quicker and cheaper than from 
Guines. Over 250 acres will be devoted to 
truck there this Winter, and I look for a 
large addition to the American colony 
there next year, for it is one of the most 
beautiful places in Cuba. 
The American truckers have not thus far 
raised potatoes, largely, I suspect because 
the seed for tomatoes and egg plant cost 
less per acre. The native growers increas¬ 
ed their shipments somewhat, sending 10,- 
528 bushels last year against 8.532 bushels 
the year before. When some of our north¬ 
ern growers take hold of the business here 
and use fertilizers as they do at home, it 
will open the eyes of the natives when they 
see the crops that can be grown, but with 
the shallow plowing in vogue here for cen¬ 
turies past, a crop of one to four or five 
bushels from one of seed, which is as well 
as is ever done and better than the average, 
is perhaps quite as good as should be ex¬ 
pected. Freights are low and deliveries 
much better than from central and south¬ 
ern Florida. Shipments leaving here late 
Saturday are on the market in New York 
without fail Wednesday morning, and, by 
way of Mobile or New Orleans, in Chicago 
Friday morning. This is much better time 
than can be depended on from Florida. 
Shipments made this year to St. Louis, 
Cincinnati, Cleveland and other central 
cities turned out very satisfactorily, often 
netting the shippers much more than they 
could get at Eastern cities. Havana’s situ¬ 
ation, with quick steamer connection with 
New York for eastern points, and Mobile 
and New Orleans for western and central 
cities, is an ideal one from the truck grow¬ 
ers standpoint, and when fully understood 
by those who are catering to the northern 
markets, I predict that the business will 
grow to enormous proportions. H. E. 
Marianao, Cuba. 
NEW PEACHES TO COME. 
The following chatty note from J. W. 
Stubenrauch, of Texas, will interest many 
who like to be posted regarding new varie¬ 
ties: “I have sent you a photograph of my 
peach ‘Nellie.’ When sending you samples 
of the others this peach was as yet not 
sufficiently developed to show what it 
really was; hence did not include it in box. 
When these ripened, say about 10 days af¬ 
ter the other samples were sent, the young 
tree, three years old with its maiden crop, 
presented the finest sight in the way of a 
peach tree I ever had seen. The quality 
of this peach, according to all who have 
tasted it, stands preeminent. Color is a 
rich yellow, fine-grained sweet meat, with 
the vinous, spicy flavor of Early Tillotson. 
With its large size and handsome appear¬ 
ance it makes a peach of much promise, 
so much so that I thought it entiled to a 
name, which I had as yet not thought the 
others eligible to. Of course, there is as 
yet no stock for sale, really of none ot my 
new ones, (Queen does not belong to me), 
until trees have fruited at least once more. 
I want to be certain beyond a doubt as to 
the value of anything I offer before it will 
be offered to the public. Unless I can give 
something better than we already have in 
its period of ripening I snail prefer not to 
offer it at all. We have too many sorry 
varieties now. Before me on my desk I 
have a specimen of a Carman-Elberta 
cross that shows remarkably strong char¬ 
acteristics of the Carman as a pollinator. 
It came from an Elberta seed. In size it 
is something between the two parents. All 
it has of its mother is yellow flesh. It is 
exact shape of Carman for the most pari; 
overspread with red and mottlings of red. 
The flesh is a deep yellow, with red streaks 
all through it, more so tnan has tne Car¬ 
man. It is now ripe, after Elberta is out. 
This is also the first crop on this tree.” 
We Know What 
Ib going to happen to the little boy who 
is stuffing himself with green apples. A 
grown man couldn’t be induced to try 
that experiment j and yet the grown man 
will overload himself with indigestible 
food for which he will pay a greater 
penalty than colic. It is this careless 
and thoughtless eating which is the be¬ 
ginning of stomach trouble and all its 
painful consequences. 
Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discov¬ 
ery cures dyspepsia and other forms of 
" stomach trouble.” It restores the weak 
and run-down man or woman to sound 
health. 
« Some time has elapsed since I have written 
you in regard te the treatment I have been 
taking wader your instructions,” says Mr. E. F. 
Cingmara, of Minneapolis, Minn. ’’When first 
I commenced taking your remedies I was under 
treatment of a welldrnown specialist in this city 
(and had been for four months), for catarrh, 
and especially stomach trouble, and I was 
rapidly getting worse. Got so bad that I could 
not eat anything that did not distress me 
terribly, ana I was obliged to quit taking the 
doctor's treatment entirely. I was groatty re¬ 
duced in flesh. As a last 
resort I wrote to you 
and stated my case, and, 
after receiving your in¬ 
structions I followed 
them closely. After 
taking five bottles of Dr. 
Pierce's Golden Medical 
Discovery and one vial 
of his * Pleasant Pallets ' 
I commenced to improve, 
Hid decided to continue 
me medicines and ob¬ 
serve your instructions 
regar ding hygienic treat 
r nt. It is now neatly 
months since I com¬ 
menced your treatment 
Hid I can say that I am 
well and never felt batter 
In mr life. Am very 
grateful 10 you for what 
your medicine has done 
for me.” 
Dr. Pierce’s 
Pellets cure 
biliousness and 
•ick headache 
- .Mwgw 
^ s 
FIRE 
ASBESTINE 
Cold Water 
F PAINT I 
beats the fire fiend every time 
because it is also a fire-proof 
paint. Costs onc-fifth as much as 
oil paint and lasts better, because 
it will neither ernek, «*ale uor 
bll ter. Made in white and all 
colors. Anybody can mix and ap¬ 
ply it. Beware of substitutes— 
Asbestine is the original fire and 
water-proof cold water paint. Ask 
your dealer for the paint, but be 
sure t« send direct to us for price 
list and tint cards. 
The Water Paint Company j 
of Amerlea, Dept. A-18, 
100 William St.,New York. 
UftDCr DnUfCDC thrashers 
nundk rUnCilOf and cleaners. 
WOOD 8AWS. 
One & two-horse Thrashing Outfits. Level PISTTCDC 
Tread, Pat. Governor, Feed and Ensilage uU I 1 LMu 
ELLIS KEYSTONE AGR’LWORKS.Pottstown,Pa 
F D. MAINE, General Agent, WUIet, » t 
CHARTER 
Gasoline Engine 
f T C* r* T\ Any Place 
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KJtJLtU For Any Purpose 
StatlonaricH, Portables, Engines 
and Pumps, Holsters, 
Sawing Outfits. 
Send for Illustrated Catalogue a»rl 
Testimonials. State your Power Needs. 
Charter Gas Engine Co.. Box 26, Sterling, III. 
THE MIETZ & WEISS 
Kerosene Engines. Sizes, 1 to 60 H.P. 
CheapcHt and Safest Power Kuown 
Kor pumping and electric light¬ 
ing, grinding corn, separating 
cream, rawing wood and all power 
pnrpoHPH Highest Award for 
Direct Coupled Engine and Gener¬ 
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Gold Medal Pan-Am. Exp., Buffalo, 
1901 ; Gold Medal,Charleston, S.C., 
Exp., 1903. Send for Catalogue. 
A. MIETZ, 128 Mutt St., Now York 
“HOLD UP 
your head and hear your sentence." Try one strip 
of PAGE 21-Bar, 58-Inch Poultry Fence. 
PA«E WOVEN HIKE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
“Isn’t It Foolish” 
to spend money tor a fence whose running wires 
MIGHT last ten years and stays ONLY three to live 
years. The FROST Is ALIKE ALL OVER, and best 
Of all, will last a lifetime. Illustrations, etc., free. 
THE FROST WIRE FENCE, Cleveland, Ohio. 
A BOOK ABOUT CALIFORNIA. 
It Is Easy and Inexpensive to Go There Now 
That the Railroads Have Reduced 
Their Ticket Fares. 
During the Winter months, while 
those in most parts of the country are 
suffering from extreme cold and dis¬ 
agreeable weather, California, the land 
of sunshine, is radiant with fruits and 
flowers, and everything that is green and 
beautiful. 
Formerly a trip to California was an 
expensive luxury, but now that the rail¬ 
roads have very greatly reduced the 
price of tickets, and particularly since 
we have introduced the “Personally Con¬ 
ducted Excursion” idea, you can go to 
California in a comfortable through car 
by the choicest route and for a very 
moderate sum. 
Is it worth while to fight through the 
Winter at home when you can so easily 
go where the perfect climate will keep 
you strong and vigorous? The saving in 
doctor’s bills likely will pay for a Cali¬ 
fornia trip. Send six cents in postage 
stamps for our handsome little hook 
about California. It is intensely inter¬ 
esting and is beautifully illustrated. Ad¬ 
dress P. S. Eustis, Passenger Traffic 
Manager, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 
Ry. Co., Chicago.- 
