1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
325 
WIIAT X SEE AND HEAR. 
Dividing Shipments. — I frequently discover in¬ 
stances where a shipper has divided a lot of produce 
among several different commission merchants instead 
of sending it all to one. The idea seems to be to learn 
which will do the best. There may be cases where 
this is a good idea ; but often, this division of goods 
results in lower prices. It places that particular ship¬ 
ment with several men, each of whom is striving to 
sell, and each of whom is a competitor of all the 
others. Competition usually results in lowering prices, 
and it’s a bad idea for a man to become his own com¬ 
petitor in this way. 
X X X 
Hothouse Strawberries Cheap. —In one commission 
store, I saw a few quart baskets of strawberries that 
looked quite different from the average run on the 
market. I asked whether they came from North Caro¬ 
lina. “ Much nearer than that ! Those came from 
New Jersey ! ” “ What, already ? ” “Yes, those are 
grown in a hothouse.” “ And you are selling them in 
quart baskets ! ” “Yes, they began to get soft, so we 
put them in these.” “ And what do you get for them?” 
“ We are offering them for 20 cents.” This was just 
about the price of choice southern berries that day. 
It isn't often that hothouse berries are put on a level 
with others in this way, and this is quite a drop from 
the $6 to $9 a quart often received. 
t X t 
Cucumbers for Pickles. — A friend in southern New 
Jersey writes to know where he can find a good mar¬ 
ket for small pickling cucumbers. There are dozens 
of men in this city who handle them, most of the com¬ 
mission merchants who handle vegetables having such 
a trade. Some have better facilities than others, and 
can get better prices. Sometimes prices are high, then 
again are very low. Some of the handlers who get 
best prices say that, in southern New Jersey, the crop 
should be planted late, so as to come into market after 
the glut is over, especially after the Long Island crop 
is finished, and then good prices can be secured. This 
is, also, true of many other products. If things can 
be so arranged that a crop can be secured at a season 
when most people are out of market, enterprise is 
likely to be rewarded. It pays to shun the glut ! 
X X X 
Wool Market Dull. —A wool broker told me that 
almost nothing is being done in the wool market. 
There are two or three causes for this. The past 
Winter was extremely mild, and this curtailed the 
sales of woolen goods to a remarkable extent. Then 
the war scare has affected almost every branch of 
business, and sales in all lines are slow. Wholesale 
jobbers in woolen and other goods say that many 
buyers for large houses in the interior cities who came 
here to buy thousands of dollars’ worth of goods, have 
received instructions to curtail their purchases one- 
half or more, and in some cases to buy nothing at all. 
Another factor in causing low prices is the holding off 
on the part of buyers, that is always seen before the 
time for the arrival of the Spring clip. There are some 
reports that this is extremely heavy this Spring, hence 
it is a time of uncertainty. Some of these factors may 
settle after a little, and the market improve, but until 
then, a dull market and low prices are probable. 
X X X 
Too Many Hothouse Tomatoes. —“Tomatoes to 
the right, tomatoes to the left, tomatoes everywhere,” 
said one commission man. “ Doesn’t it beat all! One 
year ago, I couldn’t get anywhere near enough hot¬ 
house tomatoes to supply the demand, and now I am 
swamped with them, and unless they are choice, I 
can’t sell them at any price ; even the best must be 
sold at low prices. The same is true of hothouse 
cucumbers and mushrooms.” Such conditions are of 
frequent occurrence on different lines of goods, and it 
is difficult to see how it can be guarded against. A 
shortage and consequent high prices one year are 
likely to induce most growers to increase their plant¬ 
ings the next year, and the large increase brings an 
oversupply and disappointment at the returns. An 
oversupply of the market might often be avoided if 
growers would keep better posted on the markets, 
and not ship so much at random ; sometimes one mar¬ 
ket is glutted while another just as accessible is suffer¬ 
ing from a scarcity. These conditions should be 
equalized. f. h. v. 
DEPARTMEN1 OF AGRICULTURE’S WORK. 
FOOD INSPECTION AT FOREIGN PORTS. 
Dr. Stiles, of the Bureau of Animal Industry, has 
been sent to Germany for the purpose of supervising 
our meat exports to that country. Representations 
have come to us from Germany that samples of meat 
under our certificate have shown trichinae upon ex¬ 
amination by German authorities. Information has 
also come to us that our meat going to Germany by 
way of other countries, is unpacked and mixed with 
the meats of those countries, the United States being 
blamed for impurities found in meat not originating 
here. The State Department has given Dr. Stiles, at 
our request, the position of Agricultural Scientist, 
the law providing for military, naval and scientific 
attach6s. The connection with our embassy at Berlin 
will give him access to German officials on the best 
terms, and put him in the way of getting at the exact 
facts. 
We are beginning the export of dairy products and 
meats into France and Germany under the immediate 
direction of the Department of Agriculture. We make 
purchases and send the goods over, having them looked 
after by agents of the Department, so as to ascertain 
definitely what disabilities meet American products 
of this kind going abroad, and enable us to give the 
people of the United States exact information along 
these lines. The men required are simply men edu¬ 
cated in the sciences relating to agriculture. The 
agricultural colleges do the best work along this line ; 
in fact, no other colleges do educate for the whole 
field of scientific agriculture. Of course, competent 
men, when we require agents, would be acceptable, 
no matter where they were graduated. We may send 
agents-to other countries if occasion requires, and they 
may go for shorter or longer periods. 
The young farmer who desires a life work along 
this line will find, in each State, an agricultural col¬ 
lege that should prepai’e him for this kind of work. 
There is no reason why he should not eventually rise 
to be minister or ambassador and represent his gov¬ 
ernment in a foreign country. The way is now open 
for the boys of the farm along this line, but qualifica¬ 
tions will be prerequisite, and we are altogether 
likely, in sending agents of this kind, and in asking 
the State Department to give them credentials as 
attaches, to send men from the Department of Agri¬ 
culture, because we know these men and their quali¬ 
fications, and they know what we want. At the same 
time, competent men from outside the Department 
might, on occasion, be called upon to do this work. 
U. S. Secretary of Agriculture. James wilson. 
Complaints of a so-called new “ fraud” are appear¬ 
ing in the dairy papers. At a creamery in New York, 
it is said that cream is separated in the usual way. 
Then the skim-milk is evaporated so as to leave but a 
small per cent of water with the other solids. This 
thick residue is mixed with the cream and sold—thus 
nearly doubling the bulk of the cream. It would be 
easy to do such work, for it is quite easy to condense 
skim-milk. The fact is that quite a little ordinary 
condensed milk is used to thicken cream, and is a 
great saving. It would be difficult to detect such a 
mixture without a chemical analysis, for condensed 
milk and cream will mix readily. A rogue might work 
off skim-milk in this way, but a demand for a guaran¬ 
tee of a high per cent of fat would expose him. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
In a recent notice of Primer No. 1, issued by Northrup, King >fe 
Co., Minneapolis, Minn., we stated that it would be sent free to 
readers; it should have read “free to customers ”, as the firm 
send it as a premium to those who purchase seeds to the value of 
50 cents. 
At the factory of A. A. Marks & Co., 701 Broadway, New'.York, 
the writer saw a man who had lost both legs, walking about and 
doing a full day’s work. This man had helped make his own 
artificial legs. The artificial arms, legs, hands and feet made by 
Marks are the best of their kind, as thousands of unfortunate 
people will testify. In former years, when a man lost a leg, he 
carried a crutch the rest of his days, or chained himself to a 
heavy and clumsy stump. Not so at the present time; he ma 
obtain a light and handy leg, with knee and ankle joint, and be¬ 
fore he knows it, he will be playing ball or plowing. Send to 
Marks for his pamphlet if you or your friends need a new limb. 
When the cold-water cans took the place of shallow setting, a 
great advance was made in butter making. Then came the 
separator which replaced the deep cans in creameries and large 
dairies. Now the small hand separators have found a place and 
a favor in the small dairy that leaves little room for the portable 
creamery. The tendency of late has been to simplify the sepa¬ 
rator, and reduce it in size and price so as to meet the require¬ 
ments of the small dairyman, both in capacity and in price. The 
United States Butter Extractor Company, Newark, N, J., seem to 
have accomplished this in their Empire separator. They make 
the large sizes as well as the smaller machines. Their catalogue 
will be sent on application. 
Butter Fat is too valuable to feed to calves 
and pigs—fat in other forms is much cheaper. 
The Empire 
Cream Separators 
leave scarcely a trace of fat in the skim-milk. 
They are as much in advance of the old 
style separators as the latter are in advance 
of the setting system. 
Made in all sizes for hand and power use—our prices 
will interest you. Agents wanted in territory not rep¬ 
resented. Send for our free 1898 catalogue. 
U.S. BUTTER EXTRACTOR CO., Newark, N.J. 
Kills Prairie Dogs, Woodchucks, Gophers, and Grain 
Insects. 
“Fuma” Carbon Bi-Sulphide Did It. 
“I treated 500 inhabited (prairie dog) holes two weeks 
ago, and not a hole opened up.’’—RICHARD Kksuch. 
Send for free illustrated pamphlet. It is beautiful, 
Interesting, readable, and will save you money. 
EDWARD R. TAYLOR, Cleveland, Ohio. 
SAVE MONEY*—DIRECT SALES TO FARMERS. 
Tot luvt ths benefit if the Agents' Comnliiion in! the Mlddlemin’s profit. 
ANALYSIS. Pllos - Acid. Ammonia. Actual Potash. 
Pure Raw Bone Meal.. 
Scientific Corn & Grain Fertiliser 
Scientific Economy Fertiliser_ _ 
Scientific Tobacco Fertiliser.. 11 to 12 
Scientific Potato Fertiliser.-. 9 to 10 
Bone and Meat. 13 to 15 
THE SCIENTIFIC FERTILIZER CO., 
For samples and book, write P. O. Box 1017. Herr’s Island, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
per cent. 
22 to 25 
4 
to 5 
$22 
OO 
9 to 10 
2 
to 3 
2 to 3 
l6 
OO 
9tol0 
2^to3J4 
4 to 5 
20 
OO 
11 to 12 
3 
to 4 
4 to 5 
2X 
OO 
9 to 10 
334 to 4 X 
6 to 7 
23 
OO 
13 to 15 
4 
to 5 
18 
OO 
WANTED. 
A position as Superintendent of Farm or Estate. 
Can give best of references. Address 
Box 3G4, Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio. 
$20 PHOSPHATE FOR POTATOES AHD CORH 
Sold to farmers direct. We have no agents. Send 
lor Circular. Low prices for car-load lots. 
YORK CHEMICAL WORKS, YORK, PA. 
BUCKEYE 
ADJUSTABL E ARC H 
CULTIVATOR. 
I 
Equipped with six small shovels 
instead of four large ones. 
The Ideal 
MACHINE 
That 
Adjustable 
Arch 
makes this 
a perfect tool 
for cultivating 
all crops 
grown in nar¬ 
row rows. It is so easily adjusted to any width. 
Moreabout this and many other things of value to the farmer iu our catalogue. 
for the level cul¬ 
tivation so ncces 
sary to success 
Growing 
Corn, Sorghum, 
Potatoes and Beans 
Send for it. 
P. P. MAST & CO. 
9 Canal ST.. SPRINGFIELD, OHIO 
Branch Housi, Philadelphia, Pa . 
Profits 
of Farming 
Gardening and Fruit Culture 
depend upon Good Crops and 
they in turn upon Good Fer¬ 
tilizers. The uniformly best 
fertilizer for all Crops and all 
soils is made by 
THE CLEVELAND DRYER CO., 
CLEVELAND, O. 
Material » supplied for “Home Mixing." 
[• A ~lJ|2_ A ~ A — Highest Grades at lowest prices, 
remiizers HUBBAUD&CO., Baltimore, Md 
Murat Halstead’s 
Great War Book. 
The great War Correspondent’s masterpiece. 
“Our Country in War.” 
AND RELATIONS WITH ALL NATIONS. 
All about the armies, navies and const 
defences of the U.S., Spain and all nations. 
All about Ouba, Bonin, Maine Disaster. 
OrerEOO pages. Magnificently illustrated. 
Agents Wanted Quick. 
One agent sold 89 in one day; others are 
making $39 per day. Most liberal terms 
guaranteed, 20 days credit, price low, freight 
paid. Handsome outfit Ires. 
Bend 12 two-cent stamps to pay postage- 
EDUCATIONAL CMOS, $24 Dearborn 8t., CHICAGO. 
