1901 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
733 
MARKET NOTES 
CHESTNUTS started off at a high figure 
on account of light receipts and a reported 
short crop. Conditions seem to have 
changed, however, and prices have dropped 
$2 to $3 per bushel, $4 being the highest 
wholesale figure now. Chestnuts, either 
raw or roasted, retail on the streets at 10 
cents per pint. 
DOCK RENTALS.—Owners of shipping 
pay heavily for the privilege of loading §nd 
discharging their cargoes in this city. The 
last annual report of the Department of 
Docks and Ferries shows gross receipts of 
over $6,000,000. Construction and repairs 
cost about $3,500,000, leaving a net profit to 
the city of $2,500,000. 
ALMERIA GRAPES are now seen in this 
market in large quantities. They can 
hardly be said to compete with the Cali¬ 
fornia or eastern fruit, as they are dis¬ 
tinct from both, and make a place of their 
own in the trade. They come in small 
barrels, packed in cork chips, and in this 
way stand transportation and storage well. 
An Anchor Line steamer in the Mediter¬ 
ranean service recently brought to this 
port 17,000 barrels of these grapes, and 3,000 
barrels of Greek currants. 
BROOM CORN.—It is doubtful whether 
the price of any other product on the mar¬ 
ket has jumped up and down so wildly 
during the past two or three years as has 
that of the brush from which brooms are 
made. The sections of the country in 
which this corn is grown are so limited 
that a combination of buyers has been 
able to control It, and force manufacturers 
to pay enormous prices. At the beginning 
of this season the price started at $55 per 
ton. From that it went to $140, and it is 
not improbable that $200 may be reached. 
The crop for the past two years has been 
unusually light. 
THE HOP TRADE Is dull at present. 
Buyers are holding off, expecting lower 
prices, while growers, particularly in the 
East, are inclined to hold their crop for 
a time. Hop growers have no adequate 
organization, and hence reliable crop sta¬ 
tistics are hard to get. Local buyers cir¬ 
culate misleading reports, and the grower 
scarcely knows what to do. In the ex¬ 
tensive hop-growing districts on the Pacific 
coast buyers cannot monopolize things in 
this way, but In the scattered hop sections 
of the East a local buyer who is a good 
talker, has nearly his own way. The ex¬ 
ceedingly low prices for several years have 
discouraged hop growers, and many have 
gone out of the business. 
SUPPLIES FOR SOUTH AFRICA.—Two 
transport vessels are about to take on 700,- 
000 bushels of oats at this port for Delagoa 
Bay, and it is said that contracts have 
been made for 6,000 tons of hay for the 
same trade. This hay is rebaled and put 
in about half the bulk, in order to save 
freight on shipboard, as this is charged 
by space rather than weight. There is 
considerable competition for the South Af¬ 
rican trade. Rates have been cut and 
business is much depressed. Owing to the 
conditions in that country there is but 
little to bring back, and to make the voy¬ 
age profitable as much must be made on 
the outward trip as would ordinarily be 
taken in both ways, as often the returning 
vessels have to load with ballast. 
FRUIT NOTES.—Some dealers are put¬ 
ting the better grades of apples in storage 
rather than sell at the present prices, A 
good many medium and low grades are 
received, as this is the season when nearly 
all growers are getting rid of the fruit that 
they do not care to hold. Choice Seckel 
pears sell as high as $4.50 per barrel, and 
next in price are fancy Bartletts, of which 
there are but few offered. Kleffers are 
plenty, but not many bring over $2. 
Peaches are scarce. I notice an occasional 
lot of quinces, but not much interest seems 
to be taken in them. It is probable that 
growers who have only a small quantity 
can do better by peddling them out in their 
local markets than by shipping to large 
cities. Many city buyers do not care for 
fruit that requires so much labor for prer 
serving as the quince. The grape trade is 
at its height, and prices are running a 
little higher on all grades. 
THE LABOR BUREAU, which has pre¬ 
viously been mentioned in this column. Is 
now situated In the Barge Office, Battery 
Park, Instead of at 45 Pearl Street. This 
is a free employment agency maintained 
by the Irish Emigrant Society and the Ger¬ 
man Society of the City of New York, 
but is free to all nationalities. By send¬ 
ing a stamped envelope to W. H. Meara, 
Superintendent, at above address, full par¬ 
ticulars in regard to the workings of this 
labor bureau may be obtained. Capable 
farm hands are always In demand, and 
quickly find places. There is considerable 
uncertainty in getting this kind of help, as 
often a man who starts out well proves 
to be utterly useless either on account of 
a surly and stubborn disposition, or habits 
that make him not to be depended upon; 
yet some farmers have so much trouble 
in getting satisfactory help that they jump 
at anything which seems at all promising, 
and are willing to overlook disagreeable 
traits. It is difficult to see just why so 
many men prefer to dig up the pavements 
or work in the sewers of this city, con¬ 
tinually breathing foul air and living in 
filthy lodging houses, when they might ob¬ 
tain more agreeable work on the farm, 
have plenty to eat and more money at the 
end of the year. w. w. h. 
THE WEST THROUGH EASTERN EYES 
Part i. 
The Sioux Valley.— On his first trip to 
the West an eastern man sees many things 
to excite his interest and to provoKe com¬ 
ment. I had my first glimpse of the Mid¬ 
dle West as I arose from my berth in the 
sleeper in the famous Sioux Valley in 
northwestern Iowa. Here the surface is 
very uneven. The soil on the hills looks 
light and infertile; but the valleys are level 
and productive. As one proceeds north the 
valley broadens and the surface becomes 
more level and, if possible, more fertile. 
Corn, oats, barley and Spring wheat are 
the principal crops. In early October the 
corn stood for the most part where it 
grew, ripened and withered. Husking had 
scarcely begun. In Iowa one occasionally 
sees a part of a cornfield cut up and 
stacked as we do it in the East. This is 
done when a portion of the stalks is to 
be used for fodder, but the great bulk of 
the stalks is never cut. The farmers 
drive through the fields with a box wagon, 
and gather the ears from the stalks as 
they stand in the hills. The stalks are 
then broken down and plowed under. The 
other grains are stacked at harvest time, 
three or four stacks being grouped together 
for convenience in thrashing. A stack, I 
was told, would usually thrash out about 
300 bushels. Traction engines are used, and 
the straw is blown up through a pipe or 
funnel just as the cut cornstalks are de¬ 
livered by the Blizzard corn cutter. This 
saves any handling of the straw whatever 
after it passes through the thrasher. This 
straw usually remains in the field, and 
the farmers cultivate around the pile of 
waste. The more thrifty ones burn it. The 
cost of thrashing is three cents for oats 
and four cents for wheat or barley. Some 
of the work is done by men who own the 
machinery and make a business of, it. In 
other places a number of farmers club to¬ 
gether in joint ownership of the thrasher 
and engine, and do their own work, and 
occasionally some for other neighbors. 
The corn in the Sioux Valley is estimated 
this year at 85 per cent of a full crop. 
Farming on a Large Scale.— Some of 
this land has been cropped for 40 years 
without fertilizer of any kind. In the older 
settled regions of Iowa one sees great 
herds of fattening steers, hogs and some 
sheep; but in the comparatively new set¬ 
tlements farther north in South Dakota, 
the live stock disappears, the grain and 
hay being shipped to market. This veri¬ 
fies the usual observation that new and 
fertile countries are prone to ship the raw 
material to market, while the older settle¬ 
ments learn to produce and market the 
finished product. Farm work is done en¬ 
tirely by maciunery, and for the most part 
by horse power. I met one farmer who 
owns and operates 23,000 acres of land. He 
has 14,000 acres under corn this year. He 
says he would discharge a man whom he 
found walking at work In.the field. Three 
or four horses are usually used on the 
plow, which turns two furrows at a time, 
and the plowman rides. There are rio 
stones to interrupt the progress of the 
plow, and the furrows behind are as even 
and smooth as the clapboards on the side 
of a house. * 
Ideas in Culture.— Farmers are begin¬ 
ning to give great attention to surface cul¬ 
ture in order to keep the water in the soil 
and conserve moisture. Some have har¬ 
rows attached to the plow, so that the sur¬ 
face behind the plow is at once stirred and 
loosened to prevent evaporation. Others 
make sure to harrow before dinner or 
supper all that has been plowed the half 
day before, and if rain falls before plant¬ 
ing time the ground is harrowed again as 
soon as the rain is over. Drought has little 
effect on the land where this system is 
faithfully carried out from the time of 
plowing as long as the horses and imple¬ 
ments can work in the growing corn and 
other grain. The rich alluvial soil in this 
valley runs down 18 or 20 inches, with a 
subsoil of gravel loam. The native grass 
of these prairies is very nutritious and 
grows two to three tons to the acre. Al¬ 
falfa grows there in great abundance. 
J- J- D- 
The native horses of Japan are said to 
be small and of but little value for any 
purpose. The Emperor has become greatly 
interested in foreign horses, and h.as re¬ 
cently bought from a California ranch a 
number of fine animals, also engaging an 
American trainer. Doubtless his example 
will be followed by many wealthy Japan¬ 
ese, and the result may be a considerable 
demand for fine horses from this country. 
Taxing Cows in Atlanta. 
The newspapers report that the City ot 
Atlanta, Ga., is likely to put a tax on all 
cows furnishing milk for the city. The 
proposed ordinance has for its purpose the 
levying of a license tax on each dairyman 
selling milk in Atlanta, the amount being 
8C cents on each cow used in such dairy. 
It is the intention of the board of health 
to get this ordinance passed. The effect 
of the passage of such an ordinance would 
probably advance the price of milk some, 
on account of the extra tax, and also be¬ 
cause only the licensed dairymen could 
sell milk. Each person selling milk now 
has to have a permit from the city, but it 
doesn’t cost anything to get the permii 
issued. The consumer pays 10 cents per 
gallon for buttermilk, 20 cents for skim- 
milk, and 30 cents for sweet milk; this is 
the usual price. The board of health ha.s 
inspectors to look after the dairies, as to 
cleanliness and quality of the milk, so 
that while the price may be somewhat ad¬ 
vanced the consumer Is assured of a pure 
healthful supply of milk. w. m. m. 
No such tax has been levied, and I don’t 
suppose it ever will be, though I have not 
investigated the subject yet. In no event 
could the city of Atlanta levy such a tax 
upon the cows of dairymen which are kept 
outside of the city limits. h. b. t. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See our guarantee 8th page. 
A Cross Cierh 
Is a rarity. For the most part the yotma 
woman behind the counter is smiling and 
obliging, though her back hurts, her 
side pains, or her head throbs distract- 
ingly. The wonder is, not that a clerk 
is sometimes irritable, but that she so 
rarely shows ir¬ 
ritation, when ev¬ 
ery nerve is quiv- 
ering and she 
hardly knows how 
to hold her head 
up. 
Ihe nervous 
condition, head¬ 
ache and weak¬ 
ness, which are the 
results of irreg¬ 
ularity or a dis¬ 
eased condition of 
the womanly or¬ 
gans, can be en¬ 
tirely cured by the 
use of Dr. Pierce’s 
Favorite Prescrip¬ 
tion, It regulates 
the functions, 
stops enfeebling 
drains, strength¬ 
ens the nervous 
system and pro¬ 
motes the general 
health of the en¬ 
tire body. 
Sick women are 
invited to consult 
Dr. Pierce by let¬ 
ter, free of charge. 
All correspoiufence private. Address 
Dr. R. V. Pierce, Buffalo, N. Y. 
«Having used Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescrip¬ 
tion and * Golden Medical Discovery ’ during 
the past year,” writes Mrs. Mattie Long, of 
Pfouts Valley, Perry Co., Pa., ”I can truthfully 
recommend the medicines for all female weak¬ 
ness. I have used several bottles of ‘ Favorite 
Prescription,’ which I consider a great blessing 
for weak women. I was so nervous and dis¬ 
couraged that I hardly knew what to do. Your 
kind advice for home-treatment helped me 
wonderfully. Thanks to Dr. Pierce.” 
Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets curt 
dizziness and sick headache. 
STANDARD HORSE-CARTS. 
Twelve Styles—2 and 4- 
Wheel—Wide and Narrow 
Tires—Steel Axles. Low rates 
ot freight from our Works - 
Tatamr fa.—to all points. 
Adopted by farmers con¬ 
tractors, oiiners. gardeners 
cemetery authorities, etc., 
wherever the best is wanted. 
HOBSON & CO., Manufrs., I'J State Bt., New York, 
*28 
Buys* 
Our No. 13 WOLVERINE 
Fet’d and Ensilage CntUr comidele WITH 
FOUR 13 INcU KMVKS. ma<U of very 
beet tool Bteel. Our FOVR EDGE CtT* 
TlXQ BAR l8m^de of t' ol steel and gives** 
tour cutting edges without ^rindlnir, this Is a great Improvement 
over the single edk e bar. THE KMFE HEAD has a double adjust- 
inert; the whole bead is adjustable as well as each koifeIndividually, 
always giving a good clean cut. This is not found on other cutters. 
CipfTy fly wheel is furnished and in case any bard sub- 
vAlL I I atanre is ted in machine the Hy wheel revolves on 
■baft, obviating breakage and possibility of accidetila. THE STOF 
FEED lever ia in easy reach so feed roller can be stopped instantly. 
With out expansion gei^rs for driving feed rolls, length of cut la 
varied without chatising any gears from IK ln» 
P A DAHITV >vitb 2 to4 b. p. 1 to 5 tons per hr. Haibiles straw, 
UArAUI I I bayanilGORN FODDER* WITH EARS ON. The 
frame la made of well seasoned bard wood, mortised and bolted. 
Shaft ia in cold rolled polished steel. Casting made from No. 
1 pig iron, tberef> re tough and strong. 
nil A R ANTP C n ^ abs'^lutely perfect; to cut as much or 
llUArlAniLLIJ more per hr. as any machine of same sae. If 
notfoond exactly as repreaemed in every way and equal to cutters 
retailed at t wice our price, return at our expense. W K HAVE NO 
AGENTS, thus we aie able to sell diiect to you at WHOLESALE 
PRK £8. W’e have 47 sizes an! combinations of cutters and 
shredders. Price $1.75 lo tnO.OO, Isrgfsl cut 25 tons an hr. Swivel 
earners any length. WRITE FOR LARGE FREE CATALOOL'E. 
MARVIN SMITH CO., 55-59 N. Jcifersoa St,, Cbicaso, lU. 
TQ jyiKE FARMwPOULTRY-BUILDINGS 
WATERPROOFW 
WINDPROOF,6iere^ 
Nothing Better then 
^NEPONSET 
'SPOOFING 
A postal brinRS sample and 
I name of nearest denier. 
F. W. BIRD & SON, East Walpole, Mass. Chicago, III. 
A HEN GOUGH 
IS fatal to poultry suc¬ 
cess. This is equally 
true of roup, frozen 
combs, etc. Your poul¬ 
try will have none of 
ttiese If their house is 
silled up and roofed 
over with 
' SWAN’S EXTRA HEAVY 
FELT ROOFING. 
You can put it on your¬ 
self. It only takes a 
knifo and a haniinor— 
no experience necessary. Keeps out wiml ami naiei- 
and Is ilre-iiroof. So ft and pliable; becomes as hard 
as slate. Tho ideal light structure roof. Send for 
free Knniple and cirruliirs. 
THE A. F. SWAN CO., U4 Nassau St., New York. 
RUBEROID 
THE 
POULTRY-HOUSE 
ROOFING 
As a water-proof covering for Poultry- 
I Houses, UU dEltOH) has no equal. Keeps I 
tue houses cool during the warm weather, 
and warm in Winter, and tho chicks dry and [ 
I comfortable. The sun cannot melt It. 
THE STANDARD PAINT CO., 
100 WlUlam Street, 
NEW YORK. 
ELITE OIL 
A High-Grade, Pure- 
BurnliiKOlL. Shipped 
oil trial to bo returned 
at our expense if not 
satisfactory. Foriuir- 
ticnlais and prices 
address 
DERKTCK OIL CO., 
Bov %2, 
Titusville, Fa, 
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. Bend for catalog. 
WILLIAMS BKOS., Ithaca, N. X. 
^ WROUGHT IROH PIPE 
Good condition, used short time only; new threads 
ami couplings; for Steam, Gas or Water; sizes from % 
to 12 inch diameter. Our price per loot on % inch is 
3c; on 1 incli 'i'Ac. Write for free catalogue No. 57 
CHICAGO HOUSE WRECKING CO., 
In. time of need — for Granulated 
Scratches or Grease Heel, just develop¬ 
ing or in the chronic state—turn to 
Veterinary Pixine. 
It absorbs inflammation, penetrates to 
the bottom of sure, stimulates and builds 
up new cellular tissues, counteracts ef¬ 
fects of impure blood softens the fissures 
and sloughs off proud flesh. It is the most 
natural, scientific and vital healing oint¬ 
ment made. Money back if it fails to 
enre any sore, case of speed cracks or skin 
disease no matter how aggravated, what 
the cause or how long standing. 
It is an antiseptic, soothing ointment 
of marvelous penetrating healing power. 
2 02 ., 25c.: 8 02 ., 50c.; 5-lb. pkge., f4. 
At all druggist* and dealers or sent prepaid 
Money back If It falls. 
TROY CNEMICU 00., TROY, H. Y. 
