1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
645 
Among the Marketmen 
WHAT I SEE AND HEAR. 
Grape Growers’ Enemies. —Their worst enemies 
are found in their own ranks. “ There never should 
be another Champion grape grown,” said an extensive 
fruit jobber. “The grapes of this variety come in 
early, but they are such poor things that any one who 
buys a basketful and tries to eat them is so disgusted 
with the experience that he doesn’t want to risk re¬ 
peating it for some time to come. The same is true of 
the grapes that are rushed to market before they are 
ripe. They only sicken the purchaser. Of course, 
the shippers are anxious to get the high prices, but 
they are injuring themselves in the end because they 
are destroying the demand for their products.” There 
is considerably more than a grain of truth in this. 
X X X 
Those Beautiful Kief ter Pears. —“ Have you 
bought any of those great, big, nice-looking pears 
that the hucksters are selling for one cent apiece ? ” 
inquired a man of me. He continued: “ I bought 
some of them last year, but they do not fool me on 
them this year. I suppose they are the Kieffer that 
we hear so much about. They are fine-looking, and 
once in a while we find one that is fairly good to eat. 
But taken together, they are a poor lot. Their looks 
are about all there is to recommend them.” So you 
see that looks are not all that is required. Many peo¬ 
ple get disgusted buying this poor stuff, no matter 
how fine the appearance, and quit buying anything 
for a season, thus injuring the sale of better fruits. 
XXX 
Shaking: Apples. —The other day, a fruit grower 
who prides himself on the quality of his fruit, but 
who had never been in New York before, 
came to the office and wanted to be shown 
around among some of the commission 
merchants to see how they do things 
here. lie went with his eyes open and 
asked lots of questions. He was much in¬ 
terested in the way apples are packed. 
One large jobber told him that the great¬ 
est single trouble with the apples that 
come to this market, is that they are not 
packed firm enough in the barrels. He 
said that, in the first place, every barrel 
should be double-faced ; that is, the bot¬ 
tom should be covered with two layers, 
stems down, of nice, smooth fruit. Then 
every time a half-bushel is put in, the 
barrel should be vigorously shaken to 
settle the apples. It should be filled as 
full as possible, carefully pressing the 
head in without badly bruising any of 
the fruit. He said that, unless this shak¬ 
ing is done when the barrel is being 
filled, it is impossible to shake it after¬ 
wards and squeeze the head in so that the barrel will 
be full and will not shake after being carried on the 
cars for some distance. The dealers call this shaky con¬ 
dition, slack, and apples in this condition never sell for 
the best prices, no matter how good the quality may be. 
X X X 
Grades of Grain. —The New York Produce Ex¬ 
change has amended the rule for grading, No. 2 red 
Winter wheat, so that it reads as follows: 
No. 2 red Winter wheat shall be sound, dry and reasonably 
clean, weighing not less than 58 pounds, Winchester standard, 
and shall not contain over 10 per cent white wheat. 
In regard to wheat known as Northwest, the rules are 
so amended that the grades of Northwest wheat are 
to include such wheats as are grown in the Northwest, 
and to correspond as far as practicable in color and 
general character with the Milwaukee grades. In re¬ 
gard to oats, it is decreed that No. 2 white clipped 
oats shall be reasonably sound, reasonably clean and 
reasonably free from other grain, weighing not less 
than 82 pounds to the measured bushel. No. 3 clipped 
oats shall be fairly sound, reasonably clean and 
reasonably free from other grain, weighing not less 
than 28 pounds to the measured bushel. With the ex¬ 
ception of weights mentioned, it would seem that 
these rules convey very little meaning to the novice. 
Probably the inspectors and dealers understand them 
well enough to be guided by them, but what help are 
they, and what meaning do they convey to the farmer? 
X X X 
Apples ill Boxes. — We are frequently asked 
whether it will not pay to pack apples in boxes hold¬ 
ing about one bushel each, wrap them in paper, etc. 
In a year of great plenty, it will hardly pay except 
in extreme cases, and it is a chance whether it will 
ever pay the average fruit grower. I saw a great 
many apples in boxes at the close of the last apple 
season, and they usually sold well, too; but apples 
were scarce and prices high. Geo. T. Powell is re¬ 
ported to have said that he will pack all of his finest 
apples in boxes this year, and wrap the apples in tis¬ 
sue paper. He’ll make it pay, too. None but the 
choicest fruit should be so packed, the boxes should be 
bright and clean, and everything in the finest shape. 
If one cannot or will not take all this care, better 
stick to the old barrels. f. h. v. 
PROSPECTS FOR POTATOES. 
CHANCES FOR THE COMING CROP. 
East week we gave a few reports concerning the 
outlook for the potato crop. Many other reports have 
now been received, enough to warrant a fair synopsis 
of opinion. 
Reports from Maine indicate a large crop, rather 
above the average yield. The potato crop of Aroostook 
County is usually very heavy, large quantities of the 
tubers being made into starch. This year, in case the 
crop throughout the country is low, large numbers of 
the potatoes will be shipped away to serve as food in¬ 
stead of being sent to the starch factory. In the other 
New England States, reports indicate a light yield, 
with a probable total of not over 60 per cent of an 
average. 
In Ohio, reports indicate a shortage, especially in 
the southern part of the State, although a peculiar 
situation exists this year in the fact that, while some 
localities promise a heavy crop, adjoining counties 
will yield scarcely more than half their usual amount. 
The same seems to be true of the great potato-grow¬ 
ing State of Michigan. One report from Jackson, in 
the southern part of the State, says that there cannot 
be over 50 per cent of an average crop. From Musk¬ 
egon, in northwestern Michigan, reports indicate 75 
per cent of a full crop, although of poor quality. 
Muskegon reports indicate that 60 per cent of the 
gan and Wisconsin July 11 and 12, injuring, accord¬ 
ing to the estimate of the most conservative growers 
there, 30 per cent of the crop, still these have come 
on again, and if the weather conditions be favorable, 
there should be 20,000,000 bushels of potatoes for 
shipment in Michigan alone. It is hard to estimate 
anywhere near exactly for the Wisconsin crop, as it is 
poor in some sections and in others decidedly good. 
The Maine crop is reported to be in good shape. After 
going over the situation very carefully, and looking 
at the question from all sides, I am of the opinion at 
this writing, September 1, that farmers will receive 
40 or 50 cents per bushel for potatoes in this State ; 
but if the month of September should be favorable 
for the condition of late potatoes, that is, frequent 
rains and cool weather, we shall have a phenomenal 
crop, and prices will be lower.” 
|| 
COLUMBIA 
CHEESE FOR COUNTERS AND ARMY. 
The National Provisioner, of New York City, in a 
recent issue, made the following statement regarding 
the effect of the Raines liquor law on the consumption 
of New York cheese. The Raines law abolished the 
free lunch served in saloons, and liquor dealers met 
and resolved that they would not use New York State 
cheese, as they claimed that this obnoxious law had 
been forced upon them by, what they termed, the 
“ hayseeds ” of New York State : 
When the Liquor Tax Law of this State, generally referred to 
as the Raines bill, was tirst passed, it embodied a clause which 
abolished the use of free lunch in liquor stores. The farmers of 
the State immediately found that this hurt their outlet for cheese 
very considerably, so at the next session of the Legislature, the 
statesmen at Albany very considerately amended the objection¬ 
able clause and again permitted the giving of free lunch. 
We are unable to find any reliable figures to show 
how much cheese was really used at these free-lunch 
_ counters. Large estimates have been 
made, but nothing that was really re¬ 
liable. The cheese that went to supply 
that trade was of very low grade, and 
when that market was taken away, this 
cheese came into the general market, 
and was an injury, not only because it 
was crowded in, displacing better cheese, 
but at the same time it lowered the price 
for all classes of cheese and in this way, 
the dairy farmer was undoubtedly in¬ 
jured. As our readers know, efforts were 
made two months ago to induce the Wax- 
Department to make cheese a certain 
part of the army ration. The National 
Provisioner, the organ of the meat and 
oleo trade, has the following remarks 
about that: 
THE NEW SCHOOLMISTRESS. 
“ Life ” pictures Miss Columbia in the world’s schoolroom, showing the European children how to 
fire a gun and sink a ship. She has just been graduated from an academy of naval warfare, and is 
well qualified to teach the class. See the dunce on the stool! 
crop will be sold at once as soon as the stock is ready 
for market. The chances are that this year thei-e will 
be heavy sales as soon as digging fairly begins. 
Reports from New York State are quite conflicting. 
Tompkins County, in the center of the State, reports 
light crops and a disappointing yield. From Bingham¬ 
ton, there is complaint concerning blight, with poor 
prospects for a heavy yield. If the wet and warm 
weather should continue much longer, rot will, prob¬ 
ably, set in. The indications early in September were 
for 75 per cent of a crop in that locality. From Yates 
County, reports indicate about 70 per cent of an aver¬ 
age yield with a reduced acreage. The di-y weather 
through July with some blight, caused the low yield. 
At 50 cents per bushel, more than half the crop would 
move this Fall. If the price should be below that 
figure, many would be held. Last year, in that section, 
75 per cent of the crop was sold before January 1. 
Edward F. Dibble, of Monroe County, who has spent 
a good deal of time in examining the crop throughout 
the country, sends us the following report: “ In my 
opinion, western New York has as good a show for a 
big crop of potatoes as we had two or three years ago 
at this writing. During July we had a severe drought 
lasting the entire month and the first week in August, 
but as we plant in June, this did not injure our crop. 
Since then we have had fine rains, and our vines now 
completely cover the ground. The potatoes are well 
set, there is no blight in sight, and I think we shall 
have a very heavy yield. Washington County and the 
eastern section of the State are not in as good condi¬ 
tion as we ai-e. They plant earlier than we do by 
nearly a month, and the di-y weather severely injured 
them. Reports just received from that county show 
that heavy rains have fallen recently, but I question 
whether they are going to benefit the potato growers 
in northern and eastern New York. The crop in 
Michigan and Wisconsin is in pretty good shape, all 
things considered. There was a larger acreage plant¬ 
ed in these two States by 25 per cent than a year ago, 
and although there was a heavy frost in north Michi¬ 
This instances the influence of the farmers. 
Their pull, however, was not so effective the other 
day with the Federal Government, when an at¬ 
tempt was made at Washington to have cheese 
scheduled as an army ration. The dairymen 
were so serious and worked up over this proposi¬ 
tion that they went so far as to have a bill dealing with the 
matter introduced in Congress. 
This effort to let loose the gorgonzola to tamper with the di¬ 
gestive capacity of American soldiers during most trying times 
has been made before, but has failed of accomplishment because 
American soldiers will not eat American cheese. 
After all, good, wholesome beef, mutton and pork are none too 
good for men who are carrying the Stars and Stripes to new hon¬ 
ors and getting the applause of the civilized world for their cour¬ 
age and valor. 
It would be hard to print anything more misleading 
than this. Our soldiers could not have anything more 
nutritious than cheese in their ration, and which could 
be carried as easily. Cheese contains twice as much 
actual food elements to the pound as either beef or 
mutton, and certainly very few of our soldiers in Cuba 
got any very large quantities of these meats. That 
comparison will not hold good. Probably 9 out of 10 
of our soldiers would have found a good piece of cheese 
an agi-eeable change fx-om a steady diet of hardtack and 
bacon. It would seem as though a soldier should have 
a good ration and with as much variety as possible. 
In making up an army ration, one of the things to look 
after is to get large food values in a condensed form. 
Cheese is such an article, and what reasonable objection 
could there be to its use in the American army ? 
BUSINESS BITS. 
F. B. Pease, 510 Clinton Street, Rochester, N. Y., has a potato 
sorter that gives good satisfaction in sorting and sizing pota¬ 
toes, apples, onions, etc. He will send you a description of it if 
you are interested. 
The Yaran Company, 41 Park Place, New York City, showed 
their New Process Feed Mill and Gasoline engine at the Syracuse 
State Fair last week. The engine was runniug a stone cutter, 
and the mill showed up good points. They will send circulars on 
application. 
The Collins Plow Company, of Quincy, Ill., make the Eli Con¬ 
tinuous Travel hay presses, also manufacture a full line of 
steam-power presses with automatic condensers, block placers, 
signal bells, self feeders, etc. Write them for catalogue and 
prices before buying. 
Theke has been a good deal of discussion in The R. N.-Y. of 
late about the value of a land roller on the soil. Of course, there 
is a good deal in having the right kind of a roller. Castree & 
Shaw Company, Owosso, Mich., make one and would like to tell 
you the good points of it. 
