1898 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
437 
Among the Marketmen. 
WHAT I SEE AND HEAR. 
A new Pineapple Package has made its appearance, 
which seems to find a good deal of favor with dealers. 
It is much like an orange box, having a partition in 
the center, but is smaller and longer. It seems to be 
made of very good material, and very carefully put 
together. It is a very nice package to handle, and 
much preferable to the old style of shipping in bar¬ 
rels. If the dealers all prefer this style of package, 
it is only a question of time when its use will increase 
among growers and packers. 
X X X 
Selling Currants to Canners. — One woman 
writes for the names of canners to whom she could 
ship currants. Such shipments would not prove satis¬ 
factory. The canners near New York depend, to a 
large extent, upon buying their supplies in the mar¬ 
ket when prices are low. They are always on the 
lookout for a glut of fruits or vegetables that they 
can use, because then they can get them at much less 
than the regular prices. The prices of canned goods 
have been so low during recent years, that they have 
been compelled to resort to such expedients to make 
any money. So there would be no use in shipping 
products to them unless as a last resort. 
t X X 
Freshening the Roses. —I saw one of the street 
flower peddlers spraying the handful of roses he car¬ 
ried, with one of the little bulb sprayers, sometimes 
used by window gardeners to spray the house plants, 
and after using it, he slipped it in his pocket, being 
very care ul to put it right side up. The roses looked 
as fresh and dewy as you please. It really made a 
great difference in their appearance. There are vari¬ 
ous ways of freshening faded flowers, and the most of 
those dealt in by these street peddlers, are of the 
character that need considerable freshening, to make 
them presentable. One way of reviving flowers that 
are somewhat wilted, is to put them in the refrig¬ 
erator, but they go to pieces very quickly, after being 
taken from such a place. 
X X X 
Women in the Markets. —On page 431, are shown 
pictures of two women who are representatives of the 
better of a large class of women who sell fruit, 
vegetables, and all sorts of produce in the retail mar¬ 
kets of New York. Some of them rent small stores, 
many of them simply stalls, around Washington and 
other markets, and some have a small stand on the 
street. Many of them rent spaces between the fronts 
of the stores and the sidewalk line, and here they 
have more or less pretentious stands. Some of the 
humbler class will do business from a barrel with a 
wide board on top, and some of them from a large 
basket; while some will camp out on the curb with 
any old box for a stand. A good many of these women 
are apparently refined and well educated, as they use 
good language, and all are shrewd and sharp, both in 
buying and in selling. They are quick at repartee, and 
are abundantly able to take care of themselves. Some 
of them are thoroughly honest, and their word is as 
much to be depended upon as any merchant in busi¬ 
ness. Others are tricky, and one must needs be care¬ 
ful or he will surely be swindled in dealing with them. 
I have been told of some of these women who have 
spent their lives in the market, have accumulated 
fortunes, and could not be persuaded to give up this 
manner of life. The pictures shown do not suggest 
any tendency to consumption in these women, and 
nearly all of them are a healthy-looking lot. The 
work must either kill off the weakly ones, or else it is 
conducive to health. They are an interesting class. 
_ f. h. v. 
RURAL FREE DELIVERY Oh MAIL 
A I'OSSIBLE EXTENSION AFTER ALL. 
We are likely to have the appropriation for free 
delivery of the mail in rural districts after all. The 
following letter from the superintendent of the free 
delivery system of the United States Post Office De¬ 
partment, states the present condition of affairs : 
In general terms, it may be stated that, wherever rural free 
delivery has been established, the farmers, almost without excep¬ 
tion, have appreciated its benefits so keenly that they have 
expressed a willingness to meet the cost of the service them¬ 
selves rather than lose it. But they have not been called upon to 
put their proposition into effect, and in fact, without a change in 
the law, they might And it difficult to do so. Only one rural free 
delivery service, out of 70 branching out of as many post offices, 
and distributed over 30 States, has been discontinued for lack of 
appreciation, and in that same State, two or three additional ser¬ 
vices have been established, at the earnest request of the people, 
more than to counterbalance the one withdrawn. The number 
of carriers in each delivery route ranges from one to four, so that, 
as a matter of fact, there are now, under an appropriation of 
$50,000, 150 rural delivery routes in successful running order. The 
Post Office Appropriation bill, which is now in conference, carries, 
as I understand, a compromise suggestion of $150,000 for the con¬ 
tinuation of experimental rural free delivery service during 
the coming fiscal year, commencing July 1. Should this appro¬ 
priation finally pass Congress, it will enable the Department to 
increase the rurj.1 service nearly fourfold. a. w. macneal. 
There can be no doubt that, wherever this system 
has been tried, it has given great satisfaction. Re¬ 
ports come from all over the country to that effect. 
One man in Kentucky writes that free delivery is 
worth fully $2 a month to him, yet he is only a poor 
farmer. He has, however, a family of grown daughters 
who think they must have the mail every day. This 
farmer is but one of many who wish to have this ser¬ 
vice continued and extended. Most of those who re¬ 
port state that, rather than have the service discon¬ 
tinued, they would willingly pay for a private carrier. 
One report from Washington speaks of a mail route 25 
miles long covering an area of about 10 square miles, 
and serving about 800 people. The people fasten some 
receptacle in a convenient place where the carriers 
can drop the mail without dismounting. Whenever a 
farmer has mail in his box which he wishes collected, 
he displays a small white flag. Each carrier has a 
field glass, and when there is no mail to take or leave, 
is saved a trip of one-quarter of a mile up a lane and 
back. Lard pails, oil cans, syrup cans, cigar boxes, 
trunks and, in one instance, a whole wagon box, have 
been used as mail boxes. 
In Kansas, one solitary person was found who did 
not like the service, and he is quoted as having ex¬ 
pressed himself as follows : 
I don’t see no partic’lar advantage in it. I can go to town often 
enough to get all the papers I’ve got time to read. There ain’t 
no call for the Guv’ment to go to any such trouble for us farmers. 
It’s gettin’ too darned plutocratic anyway. Fust thing you know 
the Guv’ment will be wantin’ us to wear cyarpet slippers an’ 
smoke seegyars, an’ then what in thunder’s goin’ to become of 
the farm work ? We’ll all be gettin’ like them lazy town folks an’ 
won’t stir out of the house to do a choi’e till we get our mornin’ 
paper to read. An’ do you think I’m goin’ to drop my letters in a 
box out here for any one to come along an’ get ? How’m I goin’ 
to know they’ll ever git to the post office, or that some’n won’t 
come along an’ take the stamps off’n ’em ? No, siree, Harry, the 
old way’s good enough for me, as long as I’m a plain farmer. 
On the whole, it does seem as though Congress could 
not possibly do a more popular thing than to extend 
this system of free rural delivery as rapidly as possible. 
GOVERNMENT TESTS OF SEEDS. 
WHAT THE SEEDSMEN SAY ABOUT IT. 
Beginning on July 1, the United States Department of 
Agriculture purposes to begin a collection of seeds 
from the stocks sold by our seedsmen, with the pur¬ 
pose of testing them for purity and vitality. The 
Secretary of Agriculture is to have the option of pub¬ 
lishing the results of such tests, with the names of 
seedsmen. We have written most of the leading 
seedsmen in this country, to learn their opinion as to 
the wisdom and value of this proceeding. Many of 
them seem to be as yet very much at sea with relation 
to this work. Many do not seem to understand its scope 
and the ultimate intent of the Government, and are 
themselves in search of more information before giving 
any opinion. 
A leading western seedsman says that, while the 
effect of such tests, carefully carried out, cannot fail 
to be beneficial to seed dealers, and have a tendency 
to increase the carefulness of seed growers, he is of 
the opinion that there are many other industries in 
the country, needing Governmental supervision more 
than the seed trade. For instance, the adulteration 
of food and food products is an evil that is a thousand 
times more injurious to the welfare of the country 
at large, than the shortcomings of seed growers and 
seed dealers. 
Another New England seedsman says that the plan 
outlined by Secretary Wilson is on a broad, fairly lib¬ 
eral basis toward the seedsmen, and reasonably pro¬ 
tective of the rights of seed producers. However, he 
does not understand why the test should be made in 
July ; but we do not understand that this is the case, 
but that the collection of seeds is to be begun then, 
presumably of the present season’s crop. 
One New York seedsman says that he does not think 
much of the proposed work, provided the seeds¬ 
men know, when they send the samples, for what 
purpose they are intended ; but if the Department 
were to secure through orders sent from individuals, 
a supply of seeds for testing, such as would be sent 
from the regular stocks of producers, the tests would 
be of value. He says that those who are evidently 
endeavoring to supply good stock, should have noth¬ 
ing to fear from the tests. 
Johnson & Stokes, of Philadelphia, say that they 
have always made it a rule to test all their seeds as 
received from the grower, and to sell only those of 
satisfactory germination, and would welcome the 
new law, and believe that no conscientious seeds¬ 
man need fear for his reputation, provided the tests 
and retests are properly made. 
Another western firm thinks this work will tend to 
induce a higher quality of seeds offered by seedsmen, 
to the advantage of both the seller and buyer ; that if 
properly carried out, it should have the effect of in¬ 
creasing the confidence of purchasers of seeds offered 
by seedsmen who escape being reported by the De¬ 
partment. The value of the work will depend on the 
Department. They earnestly hope that close super¬ 
vision will be exercised over the clover and grass seeds, 
as bad seeds are being disseminated at an alarming 
rate, causing loss to farmers who grow the seeds, and 
loss and annoyance to all who handle them. 
Frank Ford & Son say that the work may have a 
tendency to make some seedsmen a little more careful, 
but they do not anticipate much benefit from it. There 
are so many ways of avoiding the real object of the 
measure, that unreliable seedsmen will not furnish 
the seeds for testing, while those who are endeavoring 
to do a straightforward business, and are willing to 
furnish seeds to the Department, will be the ones to 
suffer, where any variety is below the required per 
cent of purity or germination. There is also a chance 
for injustice provided the authorities were so disposed. 
A New York seedsman says that such a measure 
would be a very valuable one to all persons engaged 
in agriculture, provided that every seedsman in the 
country is included, and that the seeds be obtained in 
a manner that will obviate any discrimination. He 
does not think that the Secretary of Agriculture should 
have the option of publishing the results unless all 
seedsmen are included in such a public list. No favor 
should be shown to any one. Samples of seeds should 
be purchased in the ordinary way. 
Another New York City firm says that this work is 
just what they themselves have been doing for the 
past 25 years. They are of the opinion that the Gov¬ 
ernment has tried to be fair in fixing the standard, 
for purity and viability, but they have placed the stand¬ 
ard on a good many varieties somewhat high. 
Another Philadelphia seedsman is in favor of the 
plan, provided the seeds are bought in the regular 
way, so that the seedsmen furnishing them, will not 
know for what purpose they are intended, thus pre¬ 
cluding the possibility of any dishonest seedsman 
furnishing seeds specially for testing. 
Henry A. Dreer says that the honorable seedsmen 
of the United States require no Governmental jurisdic¬ 
tion over their methods. They have a reputation to 
sustain, that can be held only through careful testing 
of all seeds offered, both as to germination and purity. 
The intelligent cultivator soon learns whom to trust 
and whom to avoid. We need Governmental assistance 
to prevent the importation of seeds to adulterate grass, 
grain and clover seeds. The impurities or weed seeds 
mentioned in the circular, are found in this class 
only, and the Department of Agriculture should con¬ 
fine its attention to this. Governmental aid should 
also be given to the State agricultural experiment 
work. 
W. Atlee Burpee, after careful consideration, is con¬ 
vinced that the move is in the right direction. For 
years, our Government has been behind European 
governments in the matter of pure food inspection, 
and he trusts that this beginning will be the pioneer 
to Governmental inspection of other articles of which 
the purchaser can tell almost nothing. He advocates 
purchasing by dummy orders, that there can be no 
chance for furnishing seeds selected especially for the 
test. The purity tests are of little value in vegetables. 
Several other seedsmen are not prepared to say 
much about the matter, but the general trend of 
opinion seems to be that the seeds should be bought 
in such a way that the sellers may not know for what 
purpose they are intended, and that the Government 
agents should be wholly unprejudiced in their work 
and use the greatest care possible. 
BUSINESS BITS. 
Tiie American Silo Company, Buffalo, N. Y., make a special 
feature of the silo problems, and want to corresjjond with farm¬ 
ers who are interested in the subject, whether they have a silo 
now or are to build one. 
A friend of The R. N.-Y. wants an unmarried young man, agri¬ 
cultural dairy course man preferred. Must be willing to work on 
farm in addition to care of cows and other live stock. Address 
Dairyman, care this office. 
The Dutch Belted cattle advertised on page 443, are as tine 
specimens of that breed as one can find in America. These beau¬ 
tiful cattle will be sure to win prizes at the Fall fairs, and they 
are, in any event, first-class dairy animals. Here is a good 
chance for some one to start at the top in cattle breeding. 
Holdfast corn binders have become very popular where there 
is much corn to bind. They do the work so quickly and neatly 
that one cannot afford not to have them where there is any 
amount of work to be done. The Tie Co., Box 18, Unadilla, N. Y., 
make them. They send samples of the ties in different lengths 
for four cents in stamps. 
A traction engine is one of those things that every farmer does 
not want, but those who do need one, want a good one. H. B. 
FarquharCo., York, Pa., make one that we personally know little 
about, but we know enough about this house to feel satisfied that 
we could take their word for just what they said about a traction 
engine or anything else. They also make thrashing machines 
and saw mills. 
Many farmers like to use hay caps. The hay may be gathered 
faster and in better condition than is possible without them. 
These caps are now made of wood pulp in conical form, and need 
no fastening down. They are waterproof, light and durable. 
When you have the caps, you need have no fear of cutting down, as 
the grass may be bunched up comparatively green, and will cure 
under the caps, while it is also protected from the weather. Ross 
Brothers, 162 Front Street, Worcester, Mass., furnish them. 
