1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
2l5 
Among the Morketmen 
(continued.) 
one and some the other for eating, but 
there has been no chance for a choice 
during recent years. 
X X X 
Frozen Potatoes. —Reports seem to 
be general that potatoes through the 
North were very badly frozen during the 
extreme cold weather of February. From 
some localities, the report comes that, 
at least, half of those in pits and in the 
cellars were frosted. As to whether this 
condition is general enough to make a 
shortage, it is yet too early to say, but 
many people report that, in cellars which 
had never been known to freeze before, 
potatoes and other vegetables were 
frozen solid. As for those which were 
in pits, the outlook does not seem to be 
very encouraging, because the snowfall 
in the North was very light, and this 
would leave the pits more exposed than 
would have been the case with a heavy fall 
of snow. The probability is that good po¬ 
tatoes will not have to go begging for a 
market this Spring, as they did a couple 
of years ago. Caution must, also, be ex¬ 
ercised in buying seed potatoes. 
i X t 
Yellow Hothouse Tomatoes. — I 
saw one commission merchant overhaul¬ 
ing a lot of hothouse tomatoes. Among 
others, was a box of yellow ones. “ How 
do those sell ? ” I asked him. “ They do 
not sell at all,” he said; “that is, no¬ 
body wants them when red ones can be 
obtained, and they have to be sold for 
whatever any one has a mind to give.” 
“ Then why do the hothouse men grow 
them ? ” I asked. “ Oh, I suppose for an 
experiment ! They cannot tell how such 
things will take, until they try them ; 
they, probably, won’t grow any more, 
judging from the prices for which these 
have' sold.” This might not be the case 
in some other markets, because there are 
people who like yellow tomatoes, and 
such might be willing to pay better 
prices for them, for markets, as well as 
people, differ in their demands and pref¬ 
erences. _ f. h. v. 
NEWS FROM ALBANY. 
Assemblyman Vincent’s Trespass bill 
has been amended by striking out the 
misdemeanor part. It is expected to pass. 
The State Department of Agriculture 
has reported for prosecution for violation 
of the agricultural law in illegally sell¬ 
ing oleomargarine, 67 cases that occurred 
during January and February. 
Senator Armstrong's bill, amending 
the highway law by giving 10 days’ 
notice to property owners of their ap¬ 
portionment and assessment for improve¬ 
ments ; and Senator Boyce’s, providing 
for the repairs of division fences when 
they have been injured or destroyed, 
have passed the Senate. 
The Willis bill, providing that cattle, 
except fat cattle for immediate slaughter, 
shall be tuberculin-tested when brought 
into New York State, has been reported 
favorably by the Senate Committee on 
Public Health. Prof. James Law drew 
the bill, and he has explained its pro¬ 
visions in The R. N.-Y. 
The Armour Oleo Cases. —Senator 
Thomas F. Grady introduced a resolu¬ 
tion in the Senate that was adopted, 
asking the Attorney-General to report 
to that body the status of the Armour 
oleomargarine cases, which have been 
pending in the courts for several years. 
The history of this case is quite well 
known, and grew out of the efforts of 
the State Department of Agriculture to 
prohibit the sale illegally of oleomar¬ 
garine. The cases arose during Commis¬ 
sioner Schraub’s occupancy of the office, 
and he was instrumental in bringing 
them, stating at the time that the State 
would get a half million dollars in fines. 
Senator Mullin, now deceased, and his 
law partner were appointed counsel by 
the Attorney-General to .prosecute the 
cases. When Commissioner Schraub 
went out of office, he was appointed 
special counsel, and has since had charge 
of the cases. It is known that the Ar¬ 
mours wanted to settle for $20,000, but 
the matter dragged along without ac¬ 
tion. When Commissioner Wieting was 
asked by The R. N.-Y. representative 
his opinion on the matter, he said : “ The 
State Department of Agriculture, be¬ 
fore my appointment and now, has all 
violations of the agricultural law certi¬ 
fied to the Attorney-General, who desig¬ 
nates counsel to conduct the prosecu¬ 
tion. The Armour oleo cases were be¬ 
gun before I assumed office, and counsel 
was designated to try them. The cases 
are a legacy to the present commissioner. ” 
Assemblyman McMillan has a bill 
making it a misdemeanor for any person 
to require or demand a greater number 
of pounds for a bushel of potatoes, grain, 
or other agricultural products, than is 
prescribed by section eight of the domes¬ 
tic commerce law, and fixing the penalty 
at from $25 to $500, or imprisonment for 
six months, or both. 
Geo. H. Page, American manager of 
the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Com¬ 
pany, has written a strong letter to 
Senator Ambler in favor of the “ reno¬ 
vated” butter bill, and especially that 
section relating to preservalines. Sena'- 
tor Ambler made an argument for the 
bill before the Assembly Committee, and 
that body reported the bill favorably. 
Hamilton Busbey, supervisor of trot¬ 
ting races, was summoned before the 
Attorney-General on Thursday, where 
he was closeted for several hours, ex¬ 
plaining his official acts. The hearing, 
of course, was private. The evidence 
will be reviewed by the Attorney- 
General, and if thought best, the agri¬ 
cultural fair people will be given an op¬ 
portunity to be heard again. 
Good Roads in 1898.—The report of 
the State Engineer and Surveyor con¬ 
tains a report of the operations of the 
Higbie-Armstrong good roads law up to 
January 1, 1899, at which time 86 peti¬ 
tions had been received, divided among 
the counties as follows : Chemung, 2 ; 
Clinton, 5 ; Columbia, 1 ; Erie, 7 ; Herki¬ 
mer, 4 ; Monroe, 15 ; Montgomery, 1 ; 
Oneida, 2; Onondaga, 9; Orange, 8 ; Or¬ 
leans, 1; Rensselaer, 4 ; Rockland, 11; 
Schenectady, 5 ; Ulster, 1; Saratoga, 5 ; 
Westchester, 1 ; Albany, 1; Delaware, 2, 
and St. Lawrence, 1. 
Mr. Adams says : “ The roads peti¬ 
tioned for would cost, probably, $2,000 - 
000, so it will be easily apparent why it 
has been impossible, under the circum¬ 
stances, to apportion the first year’s work 
with any degree of satisfaction to any¬ 
body concerned. The law provides that 
contracts for these roads must be award¬ 
ed in the order in which the final peti¬ 
tions are received by the State Engineer 
from the supervisors ; so all improved 
roads are to be numbered consecutively.” 
He gives a history of the four roads be¬ 
ing improved, and says: “ If the State 
spend its money on this work, it should 
be assured that the work will be prop¬ 
erly maintained. There is no good rea¬ 
son to believe that, after the improved 
roads have been turned over to the 
tender mercies of the same authorities 
who now render our other roads almost 
impassable, at least once a year, that 
the same wretched methods of mainte¬ 
nance will not prevail. It should be as 
much of a crime to ruin a good highway 
as it is to ruin any other valuable prop¬ 
erty. It is not believed to be necessary 
for the State to increase its list of em¬ 
ployees to accomplish the desired ob¬ 
ject. The local highway authorities, 
who will have charge of such mainte¬ 
nance, could be selected by the same 
methods as are now in vogue, but they 
should be compelled to do the work re¬ 
quired of them, especially on roads that 
have been built with State aid, pursuant 
to the State Engineer’s instructions, and 
their failure to comply with such in¬ 
structions should be a misdemeanor, pun¬ 
ishable by such methods and to such ex¬ 
tent as to be effective.” 
Senator Ford’s bill providing for the 
compensation of owners of cattle that 
have been killed in New York City be¬ 
cause of tuberculosis, has passed the 
Senate. The cattle in question were 
killed by order of the City Board of 
Health. 
Senator Granby’s bill authorizing 
boards of supervisors in any county 
where proceedings have been instituted 
under the act to provide for the construc¬ 
tion of highways running through two 
or more towns, to investigate the con¬ 
duct of the commissioners appointed 
under the act, has passed the Senate. 
Assistant Commissioner of Agricul¬ 
ture F. H. Kracke, of the Metropolitan 
district, has had a conference with Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture Wieting rela¬ 
tive to steps to be taken to see that the 
anti-bob-veal law is not violated. It will 
require a great deal of watchfulness, as 
thousands of veal carcasses and live 
calves are shipped during the season. 
Seven inspectors will be on the watch. 
A Poultry Proverb: 
Cold Hens Never Lay 
Poultry-houses that are lined with 
Cabot’s Insulating 
PaUSSZSi 
are wind and frost proof. A scien¬ 
tific insulator, ten times as warm as 
resin paper, and costs only about 
one cent a foot. Indestructible by 
decay or vermin, and antiseptic. In¬ 
comparably the warmest sheathing 
made. 
Send for Samples and Circulars. 
Samuel Cabot, 81 Kilby St., Boston, Mass- 
BUY THE BEST. 
If you want the best low-down wagon you 
should buy the Electric Handy Wagon. It is the 
best because it is made of the best material; the 
best broad tired Electric Wheels; best seasoned 
white hickory axles; all other wood parts of the 
best seasoned white oak. The front and rear 
hounds are made from the best angle steel, which 
is neater, stronger and in every way better than 
wood. Well painted in red and varnished. Extra 
length of reach and extra long standards sup¬ 
plied without additional cost when requested. 
This wagon is guaranteed to carry 4,000 pounds 
anywhere. Write the Electric Wheel Co., Box 88, 
Quincy, Illinois, for their new catalogue which 
fully describes this wagon, their famous Electric 
Wheels and Electric Feed Cookers. 
Farm Wagon for only *19.95. 
In order to introduce their Low Metal Wheels 
with Wide Tires, the Empire Manufacturing 
Company, Quincy, Ill., have placed upon the 
market a Farmer’s Handy Wagon, sold at the 
low price of 819.95. The wagon is only 25 inches 
high, fitted with 24 and 30-inch wheels with 4-inch 
tire. 
This wagon is made of best material throughout, 
and really costs but a trifle more than a set of 
new wheels and fully guaranteed for one year. 
Catalogue giving a full description will be mailed 
upon application by the Empire Manufacturing 
Company, Quincy, Ill., who also will furnish 
metal wheels at low prices made any size and 
width of tire to fit any axle. 
A MECHANICAL WONDER. 
Fonr tools in 
one. All work 
as perfectly as 
though each 
were sep¬ 
arate. 
Vise, An¬ 
vil, Drill and Hardy. Send §3.50 and we wo will send 
you this complete machine neatly boxed. This is the 
regular Ja.OO outfit. Give it a ten days’ trial, and if 
you do not consider it well worth the money, and the 
biggest bargain you ever saw, you may return it, and 
we will refund your money. The machine will save 
its cost to any one in need of tools in six months. The 
drill alone is well worth the money. Weight 30 lbs. 
Jaws of the vise open 9 inches. Order to-day and se¬ 
cure the agency. Please mention this paper when 
writing. Address 
Bloomfield Mfjg. Co., Bloomfield, Ind. 
No. 3 “PRIZE” FEED MILE 
OVER 30,000 IN USE. 
All Iron and Steel. Automatic 
Shake Feed. Perfect Ad- 
Juslable Feed Slide 
S 
•rind* m fine or coarse as 
desired. Will run by any 
power,oneto five horse,sweep, 
iread, steam or wind. Will 
not choke down the smallest: 
power. Sold ata low price to i »i ^ ^ 
advertise the fact that we are the largest manufao. 
turers lnthe world of labor saving farm machinery. 
Send for special offer on this mill and largo Ulua- 
iltiV" 1 c* tft ‘°k ue of “Hero” and •‘American” Grinding 
MiUe, 28 sixes and styles. Feed Cutter*, Peek's 
Corn Threehere. Tread Powers, Sweep Powers. 
Goodhue Galvanised Steel and Wood Wind Mill, fan 
power and pumping, Wood Haws, Corn SheUere. eta.' 
APPLETON MFG. CO.,27Fargo St., BATAVIA, HU. 
Make an Ear ly Season g 
? in advance of that which is ul__ _____ 
®J*er «?. ipo ’ 5 ed Pressed JSrlok, Fire Brick, Chimney 
ops. Flues, Encaustic Side Walks, etc. Write for what 
youwant. JOHN H. JACKSON Third Ave., Albany, N.Y. 
using our AGRICULTURAL DRAIN 
. LE. Everyman of experience knows that 
land that is tile drained may be worked weeks 
all 1. 
We make 
kinds of tile and 
ROUND OR FLAT FINGERS. Which aie Best? 
NO GOOD JUDGE decides a case until BOTH sides have 
been heard. Neither should YOU. Read and BELIEVE all that 
other manufacturers say of the value of a GOOD weeder in the 
held, but before buying ANY weeder see what WE have to sav 
| BREED’S new “VICTOR” WEEDER 
with ROUND FINGERS, 
then decide in favor of the one you think is best AND BUY IT. i 
twelve years of PERFECT success with ROUND FINGERS 
enables us to 
GUARANTEE that our “Victor” Weeder will do BETTER l 
work m ALL crops and EVERY spot and place than any otherl 
shape or make, and that they will do GOOD work where others! 
will not work at all. When one does not do so it may be returned I 
and we will refund the entire cost to you. 
AS-Agents wanted everywhere. First Weeder in a town a& I 
special price, and you have the agency if you want it. Write 
TO-DAY for our circulars. THEY MAY SAVE YOU DOLLARS. 
THE Z. BREED WEEDER CO., 26i MERCHANTS BOW. BOSTON, MASS. 
Bowker’s Fertilizers Enrich the Earth. 
Send to Bowker Fertilizer Co., Boston, Mass., for free copy “ New Departure ” Catalogue 
