1905. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
12 I 
FARMER AND CANNING FACTORY. 
r. A. S., Guy's Mills, Pa.—Will you discuss 
the canning factory business from the farm¬ 
er's standpoint? I should like to hear from 
farmers located near a factory and what 
they think of them, also what prices the fan¬ 
ners usually pay for produce. There is a fac¬ 
tory being built within two miles of my place 
which will cost the stockholders $12,800. 
My experience with the canning busi¬ 
ness is limited, and I heartily wish it had 
been more limited. A couple of pro¬ 
moters—so-called—induced a number of 
us to take stock in an association organ¬ 
ized by them, which included paying for 
a factory, which they proposed to build. It 
turned out as might be expected, and the 
association lost $10,000. Aside from this, 
I have contracted with canning factories 
for Bartlett pears three times, and was 
satisfied, though freight took off most of 
the profit. I cannot explain the business, 
as you reejuest, but in theory, and it 
must be in practice, the canning factory is 
a great institution, and one that would 
be greatly missed if it should pass, for 
it gives market for many acres of produce, 
and furnishes most valuable food—not 
only a luxury, but health promoting. 
Cayuga Co., N. Y., J. g. 
I have made it pay in the past grow¬ 
ing tomatoes for the can house at $6 per 
ton, but of late the crop seems very un¬ 
certain. My plan of late has been to start 
my plants under glass, then put them in 
five-inch boxes under glass, and get them 
early. I sell them in the early market at 
$1.50 down to 25 cents per basket; when 
they get lower sell to the can house; 
price $8 to $8.50 per ton. They have 
paid me $125 to $150 per acre. The earlier 
the plants the better the crop and price. 
The can men are now offering $8 per ton 
for 1905. It will pay those who are not 
fixed to grow their own plants to pay 
$2 per 1,000 to have early plants. The 
experience in this part of the country 
is that the earliest plants give the best 
crop. If the grower can get the can men 
to contract for Kicffer pears at 20 cents 
per basket, that will pay well. j. b. 
Cumberland Co., N. J. 
I have been growing tomatoes in a small 
way (from three to five acres) for can- 
ners for some time, more as a secondary 
crop, particularly when I find my fruit 
hurt, as it is then soon enough to plant 
tomatoes for canners. I have not found 
them of much profit at less than $8 per 
ton. They require first-class land to prod¬ 
uce 10 tons per acre of good merchantable 
fruit and frequently much less. I 
grow them more to keep my peach 
pickers employed; by that means I 
get them picked much cheaper and 
find some profit in them. I grow a few 
early tomatoes for market, 3,000 or 4,000 
plants. These I grow in four-inch pots 
under glass, and they are in bloom by 
May 1, but do not set them out until we 
think the danger of frost is past. I 
would not grow by contract for less than 
$8 per ton, as there are many other crops 
that pay much better. R. s. e. 
Kent Co., Md. 
I tried peas and a few tomatoes, on 
both of which I lost money, but it was 
more my fault, or rather the fault of the 
tenant than on other conditions. I think 
that in growing vegetables for the can¬ 
nery much would depend upon the soil 
and the nearness to the cannery. The 
hauling of tomatoes any distance, par¬ 
ticularly over bad roads, is quite an item 
of expense. Still if you have land that 
will yield from six to eight tons of to¬ 
matoes an acre, and can get anything like 
$7 per ton, you ought to get some money 
out of them, besides having your ground 
in good condition for the succeeding crop 
of whatever you wish to plant. I have 
never known many of our farmers around 
here to get much out of peas or corn, 
but in some sections they might do well. 
On good land I should think there was 
more money in tomatoes than in almost 
any other crop for the grower. We have 
a large cannery here, one six miles 
north of us, two seven miles south of us, 
and a number of smaller ones through 
the county. I think the prices paid last 
Summer were about as follows: $7 per 
ton for tomatoes; $6 for corn; $4 for 
pumpkin; 2)4 cents per pound for peas 
after they are hulled; 2 to 3 cents per 
quart for blackberries; 12)4 to 30 cents 
per basket for peaches, according, to 
size and quality. j. t. w. 
Sussex Co., Del. 
I have at different times contracted and 
sold to canning houses both vegetables 
and fruits, but in my own case usually 
with little or no profit in the case of 
vegetables. Just here at Canandaigua the 
season is too short to make tomatoes 
a paying crop to sell to canning houses, 
but large quantities are yearly grown 
near Rochester, N. Y. for that purpose, 
and farther south large areas are devoted 
to that crop year after year, so that it 
would seem some one finds it to pay. 
About here a great many green peas and 
much sweet corn is grown on contract to 
the canning houses, and I judge with 
some profit, as the same farmers seem to 
follow it up year after year. Also quite 
a lot of pieplant, squashes, and pumpkins 
are used by canning houses about here. 
Of late years 1 have been engaged in 
fruit growing exclusively, and almost 
every year sell more or less to canning 
houses. I sold last year white sweet cher¬ 
ries at five cents per pound f. o. b. Canan¬ 
daigua to a canning house, and the price 
of sour cherries was from 3)4 to 4)4 cents 
per pound. 1 sold my crop of Crawford 
peaches last year at $1.50 per bushel to 
a canning house, and they paid 1 to 1)4 
cent per pound for Bartlett pears. Can¬ 
ning houses about here have contracts 
with farmers for strawberries at five to 
six cents per quart of 20 ounces; black 
raspberries, four cents per quart; red 
raspberries five to six cents per quart, 
and these farmers think it pays them 
well, and are yearly increasing their plant¬ 
ings. For the fruits which I grow I can¬ 
not always find satisfactory sale to the 
canners, so that I often ship the bulk of 
my crop to markets east and south usu¬ 
ally, but whenever 1 can get a satisfactory 
price I like to sell to the canners. From 
my knowledge of the business I should 
say the question of profit or loss in such 
business lies largely with the distance 
from the packing houses, the facility with 
which suitable help could be obtained, 
and adaptability of the soil to crop to be 
grown. Usually any land which produces 
good crops of grain or potatoes is suit¬ 
able for vegetables for canners, but the 
richer the land the more likely to reap a 
profit. w. h. p. 
Ontario Co., N. Y. 
Cement for Roof. —On page 024 “Reader" 
asks advice as to how lie shall treat a leaky 
tin roof, whether a coat of cement would be 
good, etc. 1 may say emphatically that 
■Reader” would only waste his money in 
putting cement on a roof in that way, in fact 
in any way, as cement is not impervious to 
water, more especially when mixed with sand. 
The best way of all to remedy an old tin roof 
is to tear it off and put on a new one, paint 
the under side with two coats metallic 
paint, well dried before laying, then keep the 
upper side painted, say once in three years, 
and it will stay. The next best thing is 
to cover the old roof with five-ply felt, coal 
tar pitch and gravel; tilts will last 20 years. 
The next best thing is plastic slate, but in 
any case let some one do it who knows his 
business. M. n. 
Paterson, N. J. 
rofiiabl 
Crops 
The seeds 
[that produce 
the early 
and choice crops are the kind that 
make the money for the farmer. We 
tell about our fine varieties in our 
“Garden and Farm 
Manual”—Free 
—and show, by actual photographs of 
the different vegetables, what you can 
grow. 
You should also get our free illustrated 
Poultry Supply Catalogue. 
Johnson & Stokes Dept K 
“Seedsmen to the Money-Makers" 
217-219 flarket Street, Philadelphia 
At ST. LOUIS a GRAND PRIZE 
was awarded on Vegetables , the 
Products of 
Burpee’s Seeds 
If you garden you 
want THE BEST 
and we shall be pleased to mail you 
Burpee’s Farm Annual for 1905 
an elegant new book of 178 pages , 
which tells the plain truth, with 
hundreds of illustrations, beautiful 
colored plates, and describes Superb 
Novelties of unusual merit. Write 
to-day! A postal card will do, while 
it is sufficient to address simply 
Burpee, Philadelphia 
W. ATLEE BURPEE & CO. 
The World's Largest Mail-Order Seed Trade 
If you want to get the 
biggest returns for 
your labor and 
your groun<1 ' 
>' ou can't afford 
to plant anything but 
FERRYS 
—the standard after 49 years’ 
test. They always produce 
the largest and surest 
crops. All dealers sell 
them. Our 1905 
Seed Annual 
free on request. 
D. M. Ferry & Co.' 
DETROIT, MICH. 
[SEES_ 
Examine 
our soed 
r stock of onions, 
^cabbages, carrots 
and beets and von will know why 
GREGORY’S SEEDS 
have a reputation. You will find In 
our new catalogue a remarkable new 
drumhead cabbage,recently discovered, 
head and shoulders above ull varieties 
now raised. Catalogue free. 
J. J. H. GREGORY & SON, Marblehead, Mass. 
1905 
75 A 
Garden Book 
is replete with informa¬ 
tion for gardeners. A 
book or 224 pages, pro¬ 
fusely illustrated. Six 
full-page colored plates. 
Mailed took! customers 
without request. Send 
to anyone on receipt of 
ten cents, which amount 
may be deducted from 
first order. When writ¬ 
ing please mention this 
magazine. 
[llentyA.Dreer. 714 Chestnut 5t..Phila., Pa.J 
SEEDS 
SOLD ON MERIT. Catalogfree. 
The Ford plan saves you money. 
Satisfaction Guaranteed. 
Ford Seed Co. Deot.24 Rmenaa.O. 
GRASS SEED 
Field's Reid's 
Yellow Dent 
The big brother of the original or Illi¬ 
nois type of Held’s Yellow Dent. Bred 
to fit the Iowa idea of longer ears, 
rougher grains, plenty of vigor, and a 
big yield. Same perfect form, hand¬ 
some color, deep grains and straight 
rows, but a bigger, better type every 
way. I sell it either ear or shelled. 
Catalog, photographs, and samples 
free and I throw in a package of 
watermelon seed and one of flower 
seeds besides. Send for them today. 
HENRY FIELD 
Seedsman 
Box 2« 
Shenandoah, la. 
r u Theear seed com man.” - 
GRISWOLD’S SEEDS 
AT 
WHOLESALE PRICES 
We are Seed Growers and wo give the 
Seed Planter more value for his money 
than any other firm in the business. Send 
for Catalogue. 
Free Premiums 
Tfios. Griswold & Co., 
38 Maple Ave., So. Wethersfield, Conn. 
Business Established 1845 
! WISCONSIN SEED CORN SHIPPED ON EAR 
Here is what you have been looking for. Buy on 
I the ear and know what you get. Our corn Is Select, 
Fire IFried, and Adapted. How do you like husk- 
ling soft corn? You won’t havo to if you plant 
Olds’ Wisconsin seed. We have Held’s Reliance, 
J White Cap, Murdock, Pride, etc SO-page catalogue. 
I free. All kinds of seeds. Gold Medal at St. Louis. 
L. L. OLDS SEED CO. 
| Drawer Y Clinton, Wisconsin 
iJERRARKW 
*seedPotatoes 
I New and standard varieties. Promising new vari- 
leties from the Flower Seed Ball. Cannot be pro- 
' (hired elsewhere. Earliest Seed Corn and 
Garden Seeds from the natural home of 
i the potato, and the garden of Northern 
1 Maine. Catalog free. 
The Oeo. W. P. .Jerrnrrt Co., Caribou, Maine. 
_ _ _J 
SEEDS 
—Now write plainly to me the names 
and full addresses of a number of 
persons who buy Garden Seeds, 
and I will carefully keep trace of them, and favor 
them with lowest wholesale prices for select, fresh 
tested. Northern-grown Seeds of all kinds, direct 
from best reliable growers who won Gold Medals at 
St. Louis Exhibition, and 1 will send to you at end of 
season five (5) per cent, of the total amount of their 
purchases. Perhaps a very large amount, easily 
oarned. Special terms for February. 
F. VV. WILSON, Cleveland, Ohio 
Wholesale Grower and Importer 
Timothy and all kinds of Clover 
Seed, BlueGrass.HedTop, Orchard 
Grass, BIG 4 Seed Oats. Enquires pleasure to 
answer. Let me hear trom you and your wants. 
Address U. ,1. COVER, Mt. Gilead, Old >• 
SECOND CROP SEED POTATOES 
Mature earlier,stand drought better, yield more large 
potatoes than at y other seed. Catalogue free. 
ALF. A. WHITTING I ON, Marlon Station, Md. 
I AAA AAA ASPARAGUS ROOTS —The 
pUUUaUUU Most Profitable Crop grown. 
Seven of the best varieties described in our 100-page 
Catalogue, it is FREE to those who mention Rural 
New-Yorker. MOOKE & SIMON, 
Seed Growers, Philadelphia, Pa. 
LEAMING SEED CORN 
100 bu. of this popular variety; grown and selected 
by us for highest yield; guaranteed to have highest 
germinating vitality. We are breeding this corn for 
silage and protein contents: It is used bymaryof 
our Ohio Farmers for silage, maturing earlier than 
regular silage varieties A mammoth ylelder $2.00 
per bu. f. o. b.,tipped and shelled or in ear. 
FL R. MATHIK, New Berlin, Staik Co., Ohio. 
MAINE SEED POTATOES. 
Prices given on any quantity delivered in New 
York. Catalogue. CARTER & COUF.Y, Presque 
Isle, Aroostook Co., Maine. Over fifty varieties. 
Carman Seed Potatoes 
Carefuily selected L. I. stock; 5 bu. lots, US 1.50, 
10 bu. lots, #1.40,25 bu. lots, #1.30.50 bu. lots, 
#1.25. For larger lots, prices on application. 
J. 15. I5KOWN, Box 115, Bridgehampton, L.I., N.Y. 
Ponliflnujor Soorf Choice Danish grown, Early Dwarf Br 
OdUIIIIUWCI OGCUj furt,$1.50. Early Snowball, $ 2.00 oz. 
B. E.GOODALE, 1947 Broadway, New York City 
SEEDS 
THEILMANN’S—The Seedmen—carry a full line of Garden 
and Field Seeds. Onion Seed a specialty. Write to-day for 
their catalog and Special Prices. 
IHH THEILMANN SEED CO., - Erie, Pa. 
The kind that will please you. Yields bushels where other sorts yield only pecks.. 
It is the kind that pays to plant Change your seed corn and add 20 to 40 bushels 
to the yield of your crop Our Pride 0 / Nishna (yellow) Iowa Silver Mine and Im¬ 
perial (white) will do it. Write for our big catalog telling about all farm, field 
and garden seeds and giving new ideas and new methods on corn growing. It is 
worth dollars to every farmer. It is free. Write for it. A postal will bring it. 
Bitekio's Seed Hou$$, Boi 10, Shenandoah, la. The largest seed corn growers in the world. 
NEW BLIGHT PROOF POTATO 
A new seedling which we have named “HARRIS’ SNOWBALL” has proved absolutely 
blight and rot proof. It yielded 324 bushels per acre by side of other varieties that amounted to 
practically nothing on account of blight and rot. We offer this valuable new variety at a low 
price. Write for our new Catalogue (free); it contains lots of good new things, including a 
new OATS, which gave us 2,000 bushels from 19 acres. 
JOSEPH HARRIS CO., Seed Growers, Coidwatcr, N, Y. 
