1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
521 
Among the Marketmen. 
WHAT / SEE AND HEAR. 
CANADIAN FRUIT PACKAGES.— 
Canadian fruit growers have been much 
agitated over a bill which was intro¬ 
duced into the Canadian Parliament, 
similar to the fruit-package law of New 
York State. There has been a good deal 
of protest against enacting a bill fixing 
a standard of measure for small fruits, 
on the ground that it would upset trade, 
and necessitate new packages for the 
shipment of small fruits by rail. The 
object of the bill is good, but there is no 
question that 'the enactment of any such 
law is likely to prove a hardship to some 
at first. 
MISTAKES OF POTATO SHIPPERS. 
—During the shipping season, this mar¬ 
ket receives thousands of barrels of 
potatoes- every day, and of this large 
quantity, probably not one-half are as¬ 
sorted and packed as they should be. In 
the first place, stock should be thor¬ 
oughly dried before it is packed, and that 
in the shade it possible. Then the pota¬ 
toes should be carefully assorted ac¬ 
cording to size, and each grade packed 
by itself, and marked for what it really 
is. The barrels should have holes bored 
or cut in them for ventilation. When 
filling, they should be thoroughly 
shaken down, and then filled perfectly 
full, so that the potatoes will not shake 
around in the barrel, as this shaking not 
only injures appearance, but induces rot. 
Often, potatoes are shipped in sacks. 
This is a great mistake with new pota¬ 
toes, as they are very easily bruised and 
injured in consequence. 
SPECULATORS RESPONSIBLE.— A 
friend of Tjie R. N.-Y. who has been 
through the country districts extensive¬ 
ly, says that many fruit growers claim 
that the speculators and buyers of fruits 
are responsible for much of the bad 
packing which has been so often con¬ 
demned. Many of these buyers purchase 
whole orchards, and calculate to pack 
nearly everything into the barrels They 
say that they can get a larger amount of 
money out of an orchard by packing all 
the inferior fruit into the barrels, and 
facing up with fancy fruit, than they 
can by assorting carefully. This may 
be true, but at the same time, they never 
will build up a reputation for fruit in 
this way. But the best fruit growers do 
not usually sell to these speculators, and 
thus avoid any temptation to such a 
shiftless way of doing business. 
CHEAT PACKAGES.—A very popular 
package for vegetables and fruits is the 
half-barrel basket, that is, it was a half¬ 
barrel basket when it was first used a 
number of years ago. It is of the same 
shape as a peach basket, only consider¬ 
ably larger; then after a while some 
shippers began using a basket of the 
same form, but holding about a bushel. 
These baskets are all provided with 
wooden covers and are very convenient 
to handle, and seem to please the buy¬ 
ers. Lately I have seen several lots of 
them in which, instead of the bottom 
being even with the bottoms of 
the staves, it was set up into the 
staves, leaving an inch or two of 
space at the bottom, and, of course, 
holding much less. This is on a par 
with some of the wagon boys in the city 
who go about selling potatoes, vege¬ 
tables, fruits, etc., at so much per ‘pail”, 
a pail being a wooden measure with a 
bottom that often comes a long way 
toward the middle of the measure. Many 
times figs are sold in small wooden 
boxes in which the box is half bottom, 
and other products are packed in a simi¬ 
lar tricky way. This sharp practice may 
be profitable for a season, but it certain¬ 
ly will not pay in the long run, to say 
nothing of the moral aspect of the case, 
for a thief is a thief, whether he takes 
one’s property by force or by other re¬ 
prehensible means. 
A FRAUD TO CATCH A FRAUD — 
It is an old saying that it takes a rogue 
to catch a rogue. Probably it is on this 
principle that a couple of rogues in New 
York concocted a scheme to prey upon 
credulous humanity. They advertised 
under the name of The Growers’ Pro¬ 
tective Agency, with the main office in 
New York, and branch offices in 12 dif¬ 
ferent cities, that is, according to a cir¬ 
cular letter which they sent out. The loca¬ 
tion of the main office is a furnished- 
room house, where the mail was re¬ 
ceived. These frauds evidently know 
that some people are dissatisfied with 
the returns received from commission 
merchants. They allude to the fact that 
the persons addressed have, probably, 
lost hundreds of dollars each year. This 
“Protective Agency” has found a way to 
look after the interests of such people, 
and protect them, will do it at a nominal 
cost, and will guarantee that the returns 
will soon show a marked improvement. 
They say that they purpose to do this 
through the buyers, who are their 
agents. The cost of this magnificent 
service is $2 a month, with special rates 
where the services are rendered in more 
than one city. Of course this is an ex¬ 
ceedingly low rate., and will soon be 
made up by the saving. The agency 
will, also, free of cost, collect any bills, 
make any special purchases, etc. Need¬ 
less to say, this is one of the most ri¬ 
diculous and bare-faced humbugs yet let 
loose, and any one would be foolish to 
be taken in by it. f. ii. v. 
LONG ISLAND POTATOES. 
EARLY CROP SHORT ; LATE BETTER. 
Many farmers in this latitude are inter¬ 
ested in the Long Island potato crop, which 
usually supplies the New York market from 
the middle of July. Many conflicting re¬ 
ports have been made this year, but it 
now seems likely that the early crop is 
very short, while the late or main crop is 
about as large as last year’s. Local 
showers have had much to do with this 
variable condition. In some cases, a light 
rainfall has saved the early crop in one 
township, while a few miles away, the crop 
has literally burned up. 
The early potato crop is nothing to speak 
of. Late potatoes may be one-half crop, 
but I doubt it. The show is the worst for 
years. T. H. a. 
Amityville. 
The prospect for a good crop in this sec¬ 
tion is very good, I think as large as last 
year. The season will be about as early 
as last year. The late rains have improved 
potatoes very much. a. l. c. 
Bridgehampton. 
I believe that the early crop is damaged 
beyond recovery. In my estimation, there 
will be a very small yield. The main crop 
in this section will come near to the aver¬ 
age croj)—somewhat less than last year—if 
we have rain enough from now on. 
Brentwood. w. h. r. 
Potatoes in this section are looking fine, 
and the present prospects are that there 
will be a good crop. Vines are much larger 
than last year at this time. Few early po¬ 
tatoes are planted here. We plant mostly 
Green Mountain and Yellow Elephant, 
which are late varieties. I should suppose 
that the drought would have cut down the 
yield of early shallow-planted potatoes, but 
the rain came in time to carry out the late 
ones all right. The acreage around here is 
about the same as last season, but I think 
the crop will be better. j. a. h. 
Wading RiVer, 
The potato crop, on the whole, looks at 
present very promising, but the chances for 
the early potato crop are spoiled on ac¬ 
count of the drought in the early part of 
the season. In fact, there will be no early 
potatoes at all, and no digging expected be¬ 
fore August. It is prophesied by farmers 
in this section that the output of early 
potatoes will bfe below the average, and 
that of the main crop fully up to the aver¬ 
age; a bigger crop than that of last year 
is expected, owing to the large acreage 
planted. p. c. b. 
Eastport. 
Our potatoes never looked better than 
now; there are about one-third more than 
last year planted, and if there be no rot, 
this year’s crop will be the largest ever 
raised here. We had a very heavy thunder 
storm about three weeks ago, which did not 
extend west of Orient, and came just as the 
crop was beginning to suffer. Early Ohios 
are mostly raised here, and several neigh¬ 
bors say they will dig July 5, if the price 
be right. If the price be fair, we will all 
be at it about July 10. They are earlier 
than last year; then we had no rain in 
June, and when it did come- July 5, they 
took a fresh start and grew very late. 
Orient. l. m. y. 
The crop is very short in this section. 
Early potatoes are from one-third to one- 
half cut off in some places, while in others, 
they are a fair crop; yet the tubers are 
small. Dry weather injured them badly. 
Late potatoes look much better; the rain 
of last week brought them out all in good 
shape. As to the yield of early potatoes, 
they are well set, but the tubers will be 
small, and while this year’s crop is not as 
good as last year’s, the quantity will be, 
perhaps, not far short of last year, owing 
to the overplus in acreage. Hay was a 
small crop. Wheat is good. Oats are very 
slim. Late crops will be fair,owing to last 
week’s rain. j. g. 
Cutcliogue. _ 
BUSINESS BITS. 
The writer went into the field for a load 
of hay with a low-down wagon for the 
first time last week. Our former experi¬ 
ence was entirely with the high-wheel 
farm wagon. The advantages of the low 
wheels were most apparent in turning and 
getting from one windrow to another. 
The fore wheels turn under the load, so 
that one can turn around in the length of 
the wagon and team. The labor of pitch¬ 
ing on is also lessened, and the danger of 
upsetting is almost entirely removed. The 
wagon referred to above was made by the 
Havana Metal Wheel Co., Havana, Ill. 
A man who runs a mowing machine or 
harvester is, in a measure, like an engi¬ 
neer who runs a locomotive. He gets to 
regard it something as a fellow being, and 
thinks there is no other just as good. 
Consequently, the more machines a con¬ 
cern has out and doing good work, the 
more people they have through the coun¬ 
try praising their goods. The Deering 
people undoubtedly gained some advantage 
from this by being one of the first in the 
field. They have maintained it by always 
keeping abreast of the improvement of the 
times, when not actually in the lead. 
Their goods are now shipped by the car¬ 
load to all parts of the world. Their cata¬ 
logue will be sent for the asking. Their 
address is Deering Harvester Co., Chicago, 
Boggs & Buhl, of Allegheny, Pa., report 
a constantly increasing mail-order business 
with R. N.-Y. readers. This house believes 
in thoroughly cleaning up the season's 
goods before its close, so as to begin the 
following season with a fresh new stock. 
They are now cleaning out all the surplus 
lots and odd lines of Summer goods Tliev 
report the largest trade this yeat in their 
history, and, in consequence, a large “shelf¬ 
emptying” now at unusually low prices. If 
you do not see just the goods you want in 
their advertisements, write for them. 
Their store has 61 departments, and they 
have a force large enough to give indi¬ 
vidual attention to each customer, the 
same as if you could visit their counter. 
There is no argument so good as an ab¬ 
solute, plain, truthful statement of fact. 
There is nothing so interesting as fact. 
In the true happen¬ 
ings in the every¬ 
day life of every-day 
are materials 
)st thrilling 
There are 
every day stories of 
heroism, suffering 
and the final tri¬ 
umph of good over 
evil — of happiness 
finally crowning en¬ 
deavor. Here is a 
case in point: 
In the county of Escambi*. in Alabama 
is the little town of Flomaton and there 
lives Mrs. Mollie Grimes. She was a 
good wife and mother but several years 
ago she found her health slipping away 
from her. She realized that this meant 
the inevitable nervousness and irritability 
that would surely lose for her the affec¬ 
tion of her children and husband, and 
that as her health declined discord and 
misery would appear in her home. She 
was filled with the loving motherly in¬ 
stinct, but two miscarriages in succession 
almost broke her heart. She had almost 
lost hope when the clouds rolled away 
and the light of health and happiness 
returned. 
She tells her story in these words : 
"I was almost heart-broken to think I could 
not raise any more children and had to .suffer as 
I did. I had lost two children by miscarriages 
and I fully expected to 
lose another when, in 
August 1897 ,1 learned of 
and began taking Dr. 
Pierce’s Favorite Pre¬ 
scription and took it un¬ 
til after baby was born 
in November. With my 
other children I had suf¬ 
fered everything that 
flesh could suffer blit this 
time I was in perfect 
health and had a very 
easy time. I was in labor 
only a short time. I can¬ 
not praise Dr. Pierce’s 
medicines enough f 6 r I 
believe they certainly 
saved my baby’s life and 
maybe my own life as 
well. I took the 1 Favor¬ 
ite Prescription ’ and also the 1 Pleasant Pellets.’ 
The ‘ Pleasant Pellets ’ act like a charm.” 
NewYork State Fair, 
SYRACUSE N F., 
September 4 to 9, 1899. 
$25,000 in Premiums. 
New Buildings, New Water Plant. 
Great Attractions. 
Premium lists now ready. Apply to 
JAS. IS. DOCHAKTY, Sec’y, Albany, N. Y. 
Special Railroad Facilities. Reduced Bates,and all 
exhibits unloaded from cars on 
the Fair Grounds. 
NEVER CLOGS 
T HINK of Seeding Time! You want 
to Save Labor? If so you should 
have a SUPERIOR Disc Drill. 
Made with and without Fertilizer 
Attachment. The Discs roll over or cut 
through weeds, grass, matted thistle, pea 
vines, corn stalks, etc. Has the most re¬ 
liable Feed. Disk Wheel for changing 
quantity without change of parts. No 
removable gears. We guarantee every 
Drill and make good our guarantee. 
Saves Time, Seed and Labor. 
Catalogue No. 2 is free. Send for one. 
THE SUPERIOR DRILL CO., 
Springfield, Ohio. 
UPERIOR 
DRILLS 
Admitted the Best in the World. 
GEM SihBaler 
Warranted the lightost, strong 
e»t cheapest A fastest Full \Lx£^. Circle Baler in the 
market. Made of wrought steel. Can be operated 
with one or two horses. Will bale 111 to 15 tons of hay 
a day. Write for description and prices. 
CEORCE ERTEL CO., QUINCY, ILL. 
IDE 
MACHINERY 
J Best and cheapest, 
' Send for catalogue 
BOOMER & BOSCHERT 
ns 
SY 
PRESS CO.. 
Water Street, 
RACl'SE, M. Y. 
CHARTER GASOLINE ENGINE 
Any Place 
By Any One 
For Any Purpose 
Stationeries, Portable* 
Ermines and Pumps. 
State your Power Needs. 
Charter Gas Engine Co , Box 26 , Sterling. Ill 
DRILLING 
Machines 
Over 70 sizes and styles, for drilling either deep or 
shallow wells in any kind of soil or rock. Mounted 
on wheels or on sills. With engines or horse powers. 
Strong, simple and durable. Any mechanic can 
operate them easily. Send for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BROS., Ithaca, N. Y. 
We carry a complete stock of all kinds of 
RUBBER and LEATHER BELTING. We buy our 
goods at Sheriffs’and Receivers’Sales. Write for 
FREE ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE No. on 
Hardware, Pi|>e, Roofing, Plumbing Material, 
Wire. Rope, Dry Goods. Clothing, etc., etc. 
OUR PRICES are ONE-HALF of OTHERS 
Chicago House Wrecking Co. w 'C hicago. su * 
WE WILL HAVE PEACE, afflicted with ^ 
NEURALGIA 
Will have peace from PAIN and a CURE by using 
ROW TO DRAIN LAND PRO PIT ABLY. 
On every farm there ia probably some lai d 
that could be made more productive by under¬ 
drainage. Properly drained lard can always 
be worked earlier, and more profitably. The 
best and most 
economical way 
to drain Is ex¬ 
plained in the 
book, “ Benefits of Drainage and How to Drain,” 
which is sent free by 
JOHN H. JACKSON, Third Ave., Albany, N.Y. 
