161 
Loss in Condemned Food 
It is hard for many people to understand the ef¬ 
fect of waste on the cost of living to the consumer 
and the low return to the producer. Some idea may 
be gained from the fact that 19,000 tons of food 
were condemned by the Health Department in the 
city of New York during the last year. Forty thou¬ 
sand dollars worth of crops were condemned in the 
hands of one receiver in the city. Only last week 
5,000 bushels of chestnuts, 14,000 tons of grapes, and 
one million pounds ‘of onions were condemned at 
one time. Just before the arrival of the onions this 
vegetable was selling at $1.25 a crate. The short¬ 
age caused by the destruction of such a large bulk 
sent the prices up the following day to $1.50 a crate. 
.4side from the total loss to the shipi>er and the 
freight charges, the consumer was obliged to pay 
more for such onions as were available in the 
market. 
Probably 60% to 70% of the condemned foods are 
perfectly good and would be salable if the fniit and 
vegetables were properly sorted. Under the pro¬ 
visions this may be done, but the process under 
present conditions is extremely expensive, and there 
are no adequate facilities for doing it: besides, the 
receiver is expected to pay the freight and incur 
the expense of sorting and then have a dissatisfied 
shipper besides, so that he concludes it is easier and 
cheaper for him to simply accept the certificate of 
condemnation from the Health Department, and 
when he sends this back to the shipper his hands 
are supposed to be clean of the whole mess. 
In the past these condemned goods have been sold 
for good money. In fact at different times inspec¬ 
tors have been in the city who made a busine.'^s of 
condemning perfectly good produce and selling it at 
perfectly good prices for their own account. Only 
last week an inspector of the Department of Foods 
and Markets discovered six calves that had been 
embargoed and hung in the mai’ket for several 
days. After a cai’eful examination of them he took 
them in charge and called the Federal inspector, 
and as a result the embargo of the city inspector 
was lifted and the perfectly healthy good calves 
wei’e sold and returns made to the shipper. It is 
feasible to have a place Avhere condemned or em¬ 
bargoed produce may be examined and .sorted, and 
it is the intention of the Department to present a 
bill for this measure for the coming year. 
The Fight Is On ! 
The 45 or 50 cents a hundred ])ounds advance on 
his milk was not the sum total of the benefits of the 
late milk strike for farmers. As it Avorks out the 
advance price Avas the least of his benefits for the 
tfme being. Later on the cents Avill develop into 
dollars. The Avhole fight did them good: and the 
best of it was that they took the initiative them¬ 
selves, and put real human energy into it, and real 
sacrifice into it. If they had fought for a few <lol- 
lars or cents, there AA’ould be nothing more to it 
when the advance Avas received. But they fought 
for manhood and fi-eedom and liberty. They fought 
to thi’ow off the yoke of tyranny; and today they 
haA’e the same spirit of independence and determin¬ 
ation that they had during the thick of the fight. 
The story of it is knoAvn in every corner of the 
world and farmers haA’e hoen encouraged and enno¬ 
bled by the story everyAA’here. 
There are men in Albany AA’ho heard of it too. 
Some of them rejoiced. Others Avere depressed and 
cast doAvn Avith the neAVS of the fax-mers* success. 
They had opposed it on what they call principle. 
The pi’inciple on Avhich they rely is that the State 
should do nothing for agriculture but educate the 
farmer. Some of them like to do the teaching, and 
do not like to be disturbed or discredited by any 
Avork that might prove of greater seiwice than their 
OAvn. Whatever be the incentive, such agencies, no 
matter what their edvicational qualifications and 
no matter hoAV high their personal integrity, ai’e 
expensive luxuries for farmers. We haA’e enemies 
enough to fight from the outside; and if those on 
the inside cannot harmonize their prejudices or pei*- 
sonal interests Avith the great majority of far¬ 
mers, then they ought not to remain where their 
activities become a scandal to the interests they 
profess to serve. 
In the legislative circles at Albany the effect of 
the organized farmer is also felt. At first the spirit 
of past years entered the capital AA’ith the opening 
of the annual session. E\’eiTthing was going to be 
turned topsy-turvy. So it Avas, but the upset came 
in the plans of the political I’eA’olutionists. They 
haA’e heard from farmers in all pai’ts of the State. 
These showers of literary effort fell on the just and 
the unjust—on friend and foe. The letters Avere re¬ 
spectful, but every one indicated a man behind the 
©>« RURAL NEW-YORKER 
pencil. When it liappened to be a Avoman it was 
all the longer. The result will be altogether a 
different kind of legislation than that first proposed. 
The first draft which is expected soon probably will 
show some of the original plan, but it is safe to 
say from the present atmosphere at the capitiil that 
the final measure Avill conform pretty closely to 
the farmers’ demand. Next week we Avill have 
something more definite, and in the meantime sharp¬ 
en the pencil. There is a lot of work to do this 
session. To straighten out our archaic milk laws 
is a task in itself; and we propo.se to have it done 
right this time. For one thing Ave propose to stand¬ 
ardize our own milk; and to .satisfy oxxrselves that 
Ave get credit for all the butterfat it contains. 
A Review of Co-operative Work 
' Part I. 
[At the recent meeting of the N. Y. State Agricul- 
Inral Society. .1. W. Pincus read a strong paper—giv¬ 
ing a revieAV of cooperative AA’ork in New York and 
nearby States. The main points in this paper are given 
beloAV.] 
While the subject of cooperation and marketing has 
been talked about from time immemorial, and some 
people think the subject has been “talked to death,” 
the pa.st year has shown more actual achievement in 
the field of cooperation and marketing than in any pre¬ 
vious years in the history of the United States. 
FEDERAL FARM LOAN ACT.—The past year 
saAv the signing by President Wilson of the Farm Loan 
Act creating the Farm Loan Board and 12 banks 
which have recently been located, and Avhich will prob¬ 
ably open their doors Avithin the next few Aveeks. While 
there may be differences of opinion as to the A’alue and 
practical Avorking out of the Federal Farm Loan Act, 
no one can help but admit that this is the first real 
con.structive effort to solve the rural credit problem in 
this country, and it marks a neAV epoch in the develop¬ 
ment of agriculture in this country. While thus far 
very little intere.st has been shoAvn in the Federal farm 
loan banks in this State, it is interesting to note that 
in North Carolina, according to the Avords of Prof. Wm. 
R. Camp, “As a resAilt of our educational campaign in 
the last four months Ave have formed 57 National farm 
loan associations, Avhich x^pplied for $2,445,725 In 
loans and individual applications were made for ,$699,- 
525 more.” 
NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL MOVEMENTS.— 
At the Chicago conference, a permanent organization 
knoAvn as the National AgricAiltural Organization So¬ 
ciety was formed. It Avill work along the same line as 
the Irish Agricultural Organization Society, and Avill 
make an effort to promote coiiperation among farmers 
in this country. In Washington, the Farmers’ Non- 
P.'irtisan I>eague, Avith its affiliated organizations. Ru¬ 
ral Credit League of America and National Marketing 
Committee, is doing excellent Avork under the guidance 
of George P. Hami)ton. 
NEW ENGLAND MILK.—On Saturday. December 
.50th. in every county seat of the six New England 
States, there Avere held enthusiastic meetings of hun¬ 
dreds of milk producers for the purpose of organizing 
a New England Dairymen’s League, I sacv hoAv large 
dairy companies operating in NeAV England came doAvn 
and accepted the farmers’ prices of six cent.s, and 
while the increase in price of one cent over last year 
is (juite a factor, the most important point is that for 
the first time in the history of farming in this country, 
the farmers had their say in fixing prices on products 
which they produce. Heretofore, the farmers had to 
UAA’ait the pleasure and dictation of prices of the buyei's, 
:\IARKETING MILK AND DAIRY PRODUCTS. 
—In our State, thanks to the effort of the Commission¬ 
er of the Department of Foods and Markets, an agita¬ 
tion for better marketing of milk and dairy products 
Avas started last year. Ivargely as a result of this agi¬ 
tation, the Legislature appointed the Wicks Investiga¬ 
tion Committee, Avhich during the last year held a 
mimber of meetings in this State, and of the work of 
Avhich AA’e shall undoubtedly hear in the course of this 
conference. 
:\rARKETING AND CO-OPERATION IN OTHER 
STATES.—In Maine Mr. Embree reports that the 
Farmers’ Union of Maine after four years’ groAvth 
from “nothing” has 84 local xinions, with 14 ware¬ 
houses for potatoes, 52 grain houses, six grocery stores, 
a wholesale grain house, in Boston a distributing house 
and a selling agency in Ncav York City. It did over 
one million dollars worth of gross business last year, 
and saved in cooperative buying of fertilizer alone about 
four hundred thousand dollars. 
Massachmsetts has 151 organizations. The estimate 
of business done by them is: Supplies purchased, $200,- 
600; products sold, $1,500,000. In Connecticut, Prof. 
IT. ,1. Baker, director of the extension service, reports 
that there are eight cooperative organizations incor¬ 
porated, and 21 loosely organized. In New Jersey, a 
special man to look after marketing has been recently 
ajjpointed by the reorganized State Board of Agricul¬ 
ture. This man is to have an office in NeAV York City 
as well as Trenton, N. J., to assist in every possible 
way New Jersey farmers in the marketing of their 
I)roducts. 
This report comes from North Carolina; “We have 
helped farmers to organize, and furnished a manager 
to manage the association for the first year. In this 
AA-'ay AA’e demonstrate the value of eoopemtive market¬ 
ing. We find that if a farmers’ organization is suc¬ 
cessfully maintained by us one year that it can look 
after itself thereafter, Avith such general assistance as 
is furnished by this office. This year Ave offei-ed to 
grade cotton for any county that would appropriate 
.$.‘>60. As a I’esult of this offer we are grading cotton 
at seven grading offices for the farmers in 21 coun- 
Ees. Last year AA’e found that farmers who kncAV the 
grade of their cotton before selling it were able to get 
on an average $1.15 a bale more than farmers obtained 
for the same grade on the same date who did not knoAV 
the grade of their cotton.” 
N. Y. LAND BANK.—The Land Bank started its 
operation in 1915. and has a capital of $105,000; it 
has issued and sold $550,000 Avorth of land bank bonds. 
$50,000 in 1915 and $300,000 in 1916. ' Out of the 250 
savings and loan associations in the State, only 46 
belong to the I^and Bank and only 22 avail themselves 
of the lending power of the Land Bank. These as.so- 
<dations placed altogether 175 mortgages, amounting to 
.$517,(i(Kl, as .security for the land bank bonds Avith the 
State Comptroller. Out of the 175 mortgages only 24. 
amounting to $189,250 were on farm properties and 151 
amounting to $428,550 were on homes of city arti¬ 
sans. The land bank bonds Avere purchased by the 
largest savings banks and trust companies in New 
York City at the rate of 4i4% and their proceeds net 
the association 5%. 
CO-OPERATIVE CREDIT UNIONS.—In 1913 the 
Cooperative Credit Union Law was placed on the Sta¬ 
tute Book of NeAV York State. There are 30 coopera¬ 
tive credit unions authorized to do business in Ncav 
York State, and out of them 14 were organized during; 
last year. Out of the 30 cooperative credit unions, all. 
with the exception of five, are located in cities, and 
the only five rural organizations are those organized 
by the Jewish farmers in this State. 
Notes from Department jf Foods and 
Markets 
204 Franklin St., New York City 
EGGS.—Nearby eggs are in heavy supply, selling 
slowly, and lower. Quantities of California eggs ar¬ 
riving daily, selling 43c to 44c per dozen. State and 
nearby hennery white 45c to 49c; gathered white 43c to 
46e; State and nearby hennery brown, 42c to 44c; 
brown and mixed gathered 38c to 42c. Nearby white 
pullet eggs 40c to 42c; Western and Southern gathered 
white 42c to 45c. 
BUTTER.—Firm and market higher. There has 
been some speculative buying by local dealers and some 
purchased for export, which stimulated the market. 
Fancy Western creamery 42c; prime to fancy .35c to 
42c: fancy Eastern dairy, in tubs, 37c to 38c; mixed 
j)ackages .35e to 38c; loAver grades 30c to 32c. 
OHEESE.—Market firm, prices unchanged from last 
Aveek. The best large and small State 24 54^; fair to 
prime 20c to 23c; part skims 17c to 20c; low grade 
skims 16c. 
LIVE POUT/TRY.—Express receipts of nearby live 
poultry very light. Chickens 18c to 20c; fowls 21e to 
23c; roosters l5c; ducks 22c; geese 17c to 19c; tur¬ 
keys 20e. 
DRESSED POUITRY.—Market higher. Fowls 
22c to 24c; roasting chickens 25c to 28c; b’roilers .35c 
to 50c; ducks 24c to 25c; geese 20e to 22c; turkeys 
51c to .33c; capons .3.3c to 38c per lb. 
LIVE CALA'^ES.—Fancy 15^2^ to 16c; good to 
prime 1.3i/^e to 15c; common lie to 12c; Wttermilks 
7c to 8c; yearlings 7c to 71 / 2^1 grassers 7c to 
DRESSED CALVES AND LAMBS.—Calves in 
liberal supply with good demand. Prime to fancy 22c 
to 23c; medium to good 18i/^c to 21c; common 18c to 
18140; buttermilks 12 to 14c; hothouse lambs $12 to 
$14 each. 
LIA^E LAMBS AND SHEEP.-Live Soring lambs 
$14 to $14.40 per 100 lbs.; old ewes $7.5 ' to $9 per 
100 lbs. 
ROASTING PIGS AND DRESSED PORK.— 
Roiisting pigs, 10 to 1.5 Ib.s. each, 20c to 21c per lb.; 
15 to 20 lbs. each, 18c to 20c; 25 to 30 lbs. each, 17c 
to l.Sc; 40 to 60 lbs. each, 10c to 17c. Hogs, medium, 
SO to 100 lbs, each. 1,5c to 15^c per lb.; dressed hogs, 
100 to 120 lbs., 14i/>c to 1.5c; 125 to 1,50 lbs., 14c to 
I 41 / 2 C; 1.50 to 200 lbs., 131/C.c to 14c; over 200 lbs., 
1.3c to 14c. 
APPLES.—Market firm on fancy. Large percent¬ 
age of the arrivals are frosted, and go at irregular 
prices. Western boxed apples generally $1..50 to $2 
per box. Fancy New York State Baldw'ins .$4.75 to 
.$5.50; “A” grade $4 to $4.50; “B” and ungraded $3 
to .$3.75; Fancy New York State Greenings ,$5 to .$6; 
“A” grade ,$.3 to $4; Northern Spy .$4 to $6.50; Wolf 
RiA’er ,$,3..50 to .$5; McIntosh .$4 to .$6. 
I’OTATOES AND VEGETABLES.—Old potatoes 
in light supply and firm. L. I., bbl.. .$6.25 to $6.50; 
Maine, 180 lbs. bulk, $6.25 to ,$6.75; Maine Cobblers, 
165 lb. bags, $6 to .$6.25; Maine Green Mountains, 
165 lb. bags, .$5.95 to $6.25; A’irginia second crop, bbl., 
$5 to $5.50. Southern SAveet potatoes, basket, 7.5c to 
.$1..3.5; .Tersey, basket. 8,5c to .$1.75. Onions. Orange 
County, red and yelloAv, 100 lb. bags, .$6.50 to $7; 
Massachusetts, yellow, $6.50 to .$7. Beehs, ly. I., bbl., 
$2 to .$2.50; Cabbage, State, ton, $75 to $90; L. I., 
bbl., $5 to .$6; Fla., basket. $2 to $2.55. Carrots, 
State, per 100 lbs., $1.25 to ,$1.70. Beans, Marrow. 100 
lbs., .$11 to $12; Pea, $10.25 to $11.50; Red Kidney, 
$11 to $11.90; Red Marrow, $10.80 to $11; White Kid- 
nev, $11 to $12; Imperial $9.50 to .$10; Yellow Eye 
$9‘.50 to .$9.90. 
HONEY.—No. 1, Clover comb, per lb.. 14e to 15c; 
lower grades 12c to 14c; buckwheat extracted 7c. 
NI’TS.—Hickory nuts steady Avith light demand. 
Black walnuts dull and Aveak. Hickory nuts, bushel, 
$2 to $2.25; bull nuts 7.5c to $1 per bushel ; black wal¬ 
nuts 60c to 75c per bushel. 
HIDES.-No. 1 c.i’f skins .5.3c per lb. No. 2 51c to 
53c per lb.; bob calf skins $2.50 to $3.50 per skin; 
he.avy kips ^5.25 to $5.75 each; cowhides 23c to 2.5c; 
horse hides $48 each. 
Summary of sales of Tu'scellaneous farm product.^ 
during the week ending .Tanuary 24th. 1917: 
KGGS. 
8 
cases. 
dozen . .. 
1 % 
case. 
dozen ... 
14Va, 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
8 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
.3 
cases, 
dozen . . . 
1.3 
cases. 
dozen .. 
5 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
16 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
15 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
12 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
4 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
4 
cases. 
dozen . . . 
18 
cases. 
dozen ... 
1 
case, dozen . ... 
3 
cases. 
dozen ... 
8 
cases. 
dozen . .. 
4 
cases. 
dozen .., 
5 
cases. 
dozen .. . 
6 
cases. 
dozen ... 
11/4 case, dozen . 
POITLTRY. 
46 lbs. chickens . 
.55 lbs. chickens . 
80 lbs. chickens . 
22 lbs. chickens . 
10 Ib.s. chickens . 
15.3 lbs. fowl . 
236 lbs. fowl . 
138 lbs. fowl .. 
(Continued on page 181.) 
$0.60 
.59 
.58 
.57 
.56 
.55 
..54 
.53 
..52 
.51 
.50 
.49 
.48 
.47 
.45 
.44 
.43 
.41 
AOV2 
.40 
$0.27 
.25 
.22 
.21 
.17 
.23 
*)•> 
‘.21 
