1 Cl 4. 
THE 'RUre.-A.Ii NEW-YORKER 
011 
A BUSHEL OF POTATOES AND WHAT 
HAPPENED TO IT. 
HE quantity of potatoes involved in this story was 
something over SOO bushels, but for simplicity’s 
sake we have taken a bushel as the unit. The 
question therefore, that we are setting out to answer 
is: What happened to this bushel, which represents the 
average of the SOO bushels involved? 
The total cost of producing the bushel of potatoes 
was, omitting small fractions, 43 cents. The various 
items that entered into this 43 cents were as follows: 
Seed, eight cents; fertilizer, 20 cents; plowing, six 
mills; planting, two and two-fifth's cents; cultivating, 
one and three-fifths cents; spraying, six and two-fifths 
cents; harvesting and sacking, four cents. The yield 
was at the rate of 125 bushels to the acre. The pota¬ 
toes had to be hauled from the farm to the station, 
a distance of about a mile; shipped by rail a distance 
of 16 miles, then hauled from the station in the city to 
the commission man one mile. The cost of freight and 
drayage at both ends was seven cents, bringing the to¬ 
tal cost of the bushel of potatoes to 50 cents. 
The potatoes were sold by the commission man. who 
made returns for each shipment, but as a matter of 
fact it was definitely known that in some cases where 
the returns were made the potatoes had not actually 
been sold. The commission man allowed, as is the 
practice with commission men in some places, what he 
considered a fair price for the potatoes. In this par¬ 
ticular case it was 60 cents, after his commission of five 
cents per bushel had been taken out. Thus, after we 
had actually paid out 50 cents in the production of the 
crop, had spent four months in growing it, had taken 
the risks of drought, insects, fungus diseases, and so 
forth, we had a profit of 10 cents per bushel. 
As a matter of interest, we followed certain shipments 
of these potatoes which, while they may not fully repre¬ 
sent the average, so nearly is this the case that the re¬ 
sults are worthy of note. It was found that certain of 
the shipments upon which returns had been made at 
60 cents a bushel were actually being sold to jobbers for 
one dollar per bushel, or three dollars per barrel. The 
jobbers in turn sold the potatoes to certain retailers at 
an advance of 25 cents per bushel. The retailers, who 
were men running small stores in the city, were re¬ 
tailing these same potatoes to their customers in small 
quantities at 10 cents a quarter of a peck, or at the 
rate of 40 cents a peck or $1.60 per bushel. 
Here, then, is a difference in price between the pro¬ 
ducer and the consumer of one dollar per bushel; or, in 
other words, the crop after it leaves the grower’s hands 
suddenly takes on a value of 40 cents per bushel to the 
commission man ; 25 cents to the jobber, and 35 cents 
to the retailer. 
Putting it in another way, the grower, after four 
months’ effort, realized a profit on his investment of 
20 per cent.; the commission man, who acted in the 
dual capacity of commission man and wholesaler, after 
holding the product an average of 48 hours, realized a 
profit of sixty-six and two-thirds per cent.; the jobber, 
on a short turn-over, 25 per cent., and the retailer, on 
an average holding of probably three days, 2S per cent. 
These are statements of fact which in a more or less 
degree will be found to apply to nearly all of the per¬ 
ishable crops that the farmer produces. We make 
no comment at this time, being content with pointing 
out the necessity of organized, intelligent effort to bring 
the producer and the consumer a little closer together. 
B. T. GALLOWAY. 
New York State News. 
OUNTY HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENTS.— 
The semi-annual convention of county highway 
superintendents was held June 25 at Ithaca. 
There were about 400 present, the largest attendance 
in the history of the organization. Senator Geo. A. 
Blauvelt was one of the speakers. He remarked that 
too much time and money was spent on the elimina¬ 
tion of grades and the construction of perfectly straight 
roads. He said that the highways already built cannot 
be maintained out of the appropriations made annually 
by the Legislature. Dr. E. Haskell was mother speak¬ 
er, and the superintendents generally entered into the 
informal discussions. A trip through the county for 
road inspection was made. 
APPLE SPECIAL.—It is stated that the New 
York Central Railroad will run an “apple special” 
after the State Fair through the fruit sections of 
Western New York. The company will collect data 
showing the prices per barrel or box of all the prin¬ 
cipal grades of apples grown in that section, at every 
month of the year that apples are marketed, and com¬ 
parisons will be made with prices in various cities. 
The data will cover 20 years. Those data will be 
placed on a large chart and exhibited in one of the 
cars, and another chart will show the acreage of 
bearing orchards and the number of young trees set 
within the last five or ten years. It is expected that 
the figures will show that there is a smaller acreage 
in orchards now than there was 10 years ago. 
$50,000 WORTH OF CHEESE.—The statement of 
the fact that on June 27 the sales of cheese on the 
Watertown Produce Exchange amounted to 10.385 
boxes at 1314 and 13% cents per pound, means little 
to th • - asual reader. Bat its real meaning is that for 
the 386,000 pounds of cheese sold the sum of 850.000 
will be paid to the farmers of Jefferson County. A 
year ago the sales amounted to 11,160 boxes, at 14 to 
14% cents. At Gouverneur it is no uncommon thing 
to see of a Monday forenoon 30 to 40 teams loaded 
with 30 to 40 cheese each, averaging about 70 pounds, 
awaiting shipment. The shipments from January 1 
to June 22 amounted to 12,030 boxes, weighing 985,000 
pounds. 
THE CANNERIES.—The canning plants in Wayne 
County are opening up for business; in fact, have 
already done considerable on peas and strawberries. 
One company has been canning from 2,000 to 2.500 
quarts of strawberries daily. Spinach is also being 
tinned at Sodus. This crop is said to net the grower 
$20 per ton. It is put up in gallon tins. 
CROP CONDITIONS.—According to the crop re¬ 
ports of the Department of Agriculture of this State, 
the large apple-growing counties of tthe Western part 
of the State will produce twice as many apples as last 
year, of the Winter varieties; but the Hudson Valley 
crop will be somewhat lighter. Outside the commercial 
apple-growing sections the apple crop will be notably 
smaller owing largely to the ravages of insects. Tak¬ 
ing 100 as the maximum for the crop of 1913, all 
grains but wheat and barley rank this year from 101 
to 116. 
INSECTS IN xlPPLE BELT.—Late reports from 
the apple belt are to the effect that growers are show¬ 
ing considerable concern over the insect damage, ow¬ 
ing to the dry weather of the first three weeks of the 
month. In Niagara County it is reported that the aphis 
is doing much injury. In Monroe County it is said 
that some of the finest orchards have been threatened 
by the fruit tree leaf roller. Like reports come from 
Oneida County owing to neglect in fighting the Codling 
moth and canker worm. j. w. D. 
Conditions in Ashtabula County, Ohio. 
T HERE will be no peaches in Northeastern Ohio 
along the lake shore. The grapes are setting 
well, *>• d promise to be a better crop than last 
year. Strawberries were from one-half to two- 
thirds crop. This was due to dry weather the latter 
part of May and the first part, of June. Some late 
strawberry patches yielded well after the appearance 
of rain the middle of June. Cherries are a fair crop, 
yet lust^ year there were four turns as many as this 
year. There will be but few apples, and scarcely any 
pears. Plums are almost a failure. The dry weather 
injured the hay crop. Rains which came the 18th of 
June gave the grass a fresh start. Many farmers were 
starting cutting their hay at this time. In Denmark 
township, where a large amount of hay is cut each 
year, this year the bay crop will be about 85 per cent, 
for the locality, while in other sections it will be only 
about 69 per cent. There is practically no hay left 
over. 
Cheese factories paid for the month of May, hauling 
to be deducted, $1.08 to $1.12, the Ohio & ‘ Pittsburg 
Milk Company $1.23. hauling to be deducted, and the 
Iiick factory at Jefferson $1.36, with bonus for high- 
testing milk. There seems to be more milk produced 
in the county this year than any other year for a 
decade. The manager of the factory at Leon declared 
that last year the total amount of milk produced in 
their territory and going to their ;,nl other factories 
and shippers totaled but half the amount received by 
them alone when they first invaded the territory ten 
years ago. This is due to many farmers from Western 
Ohio buying the dairy farms, and specializing more in 
crops and corn, and with a few hogs, than previously 
when dairy cows were kept. Many of the low-produc¬ 
ing dairies and dairy cows have been sold, which re¬ 
duces the cost of the milk. Milk inspection has had 
a tendency to improve the quality of milk, for one of 
the inspectors advises the farmers that he proposes to 
encourage them to produce better milk at a profit, 
rather than discourage the average farmer by insisting 
that he should comply with rigid inspection. There 
are more new barns being built and more barns re¬ 
modeled than any two years heretofore. The number 
of silos to be erected this year will be one-third more 
than last year, which was a record year. 
The acreage of rye planted last Fall was twice that 
of any previous year, and the crop looks good in all 
sections of the county. There is a larger acreage of 
wheat than in previous years, and it will be ready for 
cutting about July 5th. Oats were planted late, three- 
fourths of the acreage of the county having been plant¬ 
ed between May 20th and June 1st. A larger part of 
the corn was planted after June 1st. Oats will be a 
fair crop, while corn promises to be good. Farmers 
are raising about one-third more calves to replenish 
their dairies than heretofore. Cows are selling around 
$60 and $70, veal calves are bringing eight cents at 
the farm, eggs about 17 cents, and butter 17 to 20 
cents at the local stores. These prices are much lower 
than last year. Seed potatoes scarce at 50 cents, and 
eating potatoes are 75 cents and $1.00. There is more 
available farm help this Summer than at any time 
heretofore, yet there seems to be a shortage of efficient 
farm labor. 
Farm machinery sales are greater than heretofore in 
the history of the county. There are more riding 
plows of the single bottom type being sold this year 
than heretofore. Three good heavy horses are used 
on the plows and the farmers are practicing deep plow¬ 
ing. Horses are sWling from $160 to $225. The sale 
was pretty lively among farmers when Spring work 
opened, but at present sales are quiet. There is but 
little demand for drivers, and only the serviceable farm 
horses, from 1,200 pounds upward, are in demand. 
There were one-third more colts foaled this year than 
previous years. These are practically all draft bred. 
One owner states that he has recorded only 17 services 
to his trotting-bred stallion, while a nearby Pereherou 
owner has booked about 100 mares. Real estate is 
moving slowly, farms are selling from $40 to $60 an 
acre in the interior of the county, while along the lake 
shore sales are quite lively, with farms bringing from 
$100 to $300 and even higher, depending on the condi¬ 
tion, the amount of fruit and location. Bees have not 
done as well as in former years, according to several 
bee keepers, owing to the late, cold Spring, and a 
good many bee keepers and farmers report one-third 
of their swarms having been lost during the Winter. 
This year there will be no bee inspection in Ashtabula 
County. All the apiaries have been found in former 
inspections to be in healthy condition, and those which 
were infected with foul brood were put in healthy con¬ 
dition by the introduction of Italian queens, in com¬ 
pliance with the State Department. 
There are between 40 and 50 dairies operated by the 
milking machine, and double this number of plants will 
be in operation before the present season is past, is 
the opinion of several dairymen. Three years ago was 
a banner corn year, and this year promises to produce 
nearly as good corn. Walter .jack. 
New Jersey Crops Encouraging. 
T HE following report as to New Jersey crops is 
made from the summary of replies received by 
the State Board of Agriculture from the first 
call for crop information this Summer. Rain 
seems to have been abundant in the northern counties, 
while in the southern the drought has been very severe, 
causing a 50 per cent, reduction in the strawberry 
crop, a severe injury to early market garden crops. 
Asparagus is marked at 50 per cent, of a full yield, 
and there is a heavy reduction in the yield of grass 
for hay and pasture. 
Atlantic County states: “Very hot and dry; no rain 
for six week.” 
Salem County reports: “No rain ; so much corn has 
failed to germinate. Asparagus is the only market 
garden crop. Some beds have cut well, but the price 
has been lower. Other beds have not cut more than 
50 per cent. Hay is not more than one-half a crop. 
Many farmers have not been able to plow their 
grounds for late tomatoes. No rain for about seven 
weeks.” 
Cape May: “Late, cold Spring; very dry now and 
unfavorable weather in general for any crop except 
peas for canning and late corn. Some few people are 
harvesting a fine yield of grass, while others are com¬ 
plaining of a very short crop.” 
Monmouth: “Potatoes looking extra fine. Ten per 
cent, increase in acreage over last year.” 
Union : “Unfavorable weather conditions and crops so 
backward as to give no prospects at this date for any 
reliable crop estimates. No planting of any amount 
done in this locality until May 18. Corn not all 
planted to date; nights too cold and weather condi¬ 
tions unfavorable for growth. The strawberry crop 
will be about one-lialf of what was expected two 
weeks ago. Season and crop conditions about four 
weeks behind.” 
Passaic: “The hay crop will be very good, season 
having been very favorable.” 
Morris rejoices as follows: “Crops never looked bet¬ 
ter at this time of season, with the exception of corn, 
which is not quite as forward as some other years. 
Present indications for hay were never better. Pota¬ 
toes are unusually fine, with enough rain to mature 
the crop. Altogether the farmer’s outlook is very en¬ 
couraging. Alfalfa is not grown very extensively. 
Only a few have tried it to date.” 
Burlington: “Potato acreage about 10 per cent, less 
thau formerly. A five weeks’ drought is working havoc 
on many crops. Conditions were favorable for large 
crops generally until the present dry spell began. Un¬ 
less relief comes soon most truck crops will be verv 
light.” 
Somerset: “The prospect for fruit is said to be ex¬ 
cellent. Wheat is very poor, owing to the fly and the 
wonderful growth of Timothy, which has choked the 
grain. Some will mow their harvest fields for hay. 
What we need most is rain.” 
Conditions whether favorable or unfavorable, as in¬ 
dicated by ten reports received, are: Corn, nine re¬ 
plies favorable; wheat, four favorable, four unfavor¬ 
able; potatoes and market garden crops, favorable by 
counties. Seven report favorable on peaches and ap¬ 
ples. Since the reports from which this summary is 
made were written a copious rain has visited Glouces¬ 
ter and other southern counties, which will help all 
unmatured crops. The general condition of the cran¬ 
berry plantations is favorable for a good crop. 
D. T. H. 
Government Cotton Report. 
T HE Bureau of Statistics estimates the condition 
at the close of June as 79.6 per cent, of normal. 
This is an advance of 4.3 per cent, over one 
month previous, and 2.2 under last year. Acre¬ 
age and percentages by States follow: 
States. Planted 1014. 
Virginia . 46. (XX) 86 
North Carolina . 1,589.000 S2 
South Carolina . 2,826.000 81 
Georgia . 5,398,000 83 
Florida . 194,000 
Alabama . 3.912.000 SS 
Mississippi . 3,148.000 81 
Louisiana . 1.3S9.000 81 
Tex..s . 12.052,000 74 
Arkansas . 2,527.000 80 
Tennessee . 866.000 79 
Missouri . 124.000 93 
Oklahoma . 2,854,000 79 
California . 35,000 
Other Cotton Experts. 
Jay, Bond & Co. estimate the crop at 77.7 of nor¬ 
mal. with the following detailed percentages: North 
Carolina, 77.3; South Carolina. 77.3; Georgia, S2.3; 
Florida, 81.8; Alabama. 83.5; Mississippi. 84.5; 
Louisiana, 83.5; Texas. 72.1; Arkansas. 77.7; Ten¬ 
nessee, 81.6; Missouri, 85.3; Oklahoma, 75.6; various, 
87.0. 
A Norden & Co.’s estimate is 80.1. with these de¬ 
tails: North Carolina, 7s ; South Carolina, 79; Georg¬ 
ia, S3 ; Alabama, 89 ; Mississippi, 80 ; Louisiana, 80; 
Texas, 77 ; Oklahoma, SO; Arkansas, 79 : Tennessee, S2. 
Other percentages given without details are: Clem¬ 
ent, Curtis & Co.: 75.8. National Dinners’ Associa¬ 
tion, 7S.3. R. M. Giles, 79. 
Kansas Grain Crops. 
Secretary F. D. Coburn reports the Kansas wheat 
crop as 154,000,000 bushels, on au area of 8,873,000 
acres. This is 60,000,000 bushels greater than any 
previous Kansas wheat yield. The condition of corn 
is 93.8 per cent., or 8.2 more than last vear. About 
5,500.000 acres are planted. There are 1,470,000 acres 
in oats; condition 87.1. or 37.8 better than a year ago. 
