American Agriculturist, February 23, 1924 
Reviewing the Latest Eastern Markets and Prices 
POTATO MARKET WEAK 
I N spite of the heavy weather that hit New 
York, during the week, the potato market 
still continues dull. This is rather unusual 
because as soon as the weather gets heavy, bulk 
shipments slow up and as a result the market 
strengthens. As we go to press the situation is 
just the opposite. Apparently there are a lot 
of potatoes in the country, and it is quite evi¬ 
dent that holdings are quite heavy. 
The outstanding feature of the potato 
market lies in the fact that Maine potatoes 
are selling very close to Long Islands. “Pine 
Tree” brand potatoes from Maine are bringing 
$3.25 per 150-pound sack delivered, while 
Long Islands are bringing only $3.45. in same 
size sacks delivered. Ordinarily there is almost 
a dollar difference between these two while at 
the present the difference varies from 20 to 25 
cents. The reason for this is that the Long 
Islands have not been keeping good. The mild 
weather has had a bad influence on potatoes in 
storage with a result that a lot of spongy and 
soft stock is coming on the market to pull down 
the price. Several big growers on the Island 
feel that it is beginning to get risky to hold 
much longer before their potatoes go altogether 
and are beginning to unload. 
The market on “States” is weak. The 
reason for this is that there is a lot of inferior 
stuff coming through, poorly graded and not 
good looking. 
APPLE MARKET GENERALLY DULL 
The export trade is the only bright spot that 
has held forth consistently in the apple market 
thus far diming the winter. There has been 
a good, consistent demand for 2%- to 2%-incli 
stock. 
Fancy barrelled apples are getting fairly 
favorable market. The supply of this stock is 
light, and sells quite promptly. However, the 
market is slow and dull on the poor to average 
qualities. Under grades and common storage 
stock are dragging badly. “A” grade, 2%-inch 
Greenings, are bringing from $4 to $5, with 50c 
premium for the best stock. Large fancy stock 
is bringing from $6 to $6.50. It is very rare 
that $7 is reached. Baldwins of “A” grade, 
2%-incih, are turning slowly at $3.75 to $4.25. 
It is rare that $4.50 is reached. Some sales 
are being made on large fancy stock for $5 and 
$5.50. McIntosh are bringing from $6 to $6.50 
for 2 ^ 2 -inch, or better, while anything under 
that size finds a varying market, depending 
upon quality, up to $5 for the very nicest. 
There seems to be a continued active demand 
in the export trade for dried apples. Fancy 
State stock is bringing from 17c to 17%c, while 
stock that is prime to choice varies from 15c to 
16%c. Shipments going abroad are moving 
quite steadily. 
HAY MARKET FIRM 
There was a strong demand for hay in large 
bales as the market closed last week. The 
market has a decidedly firm tone. Small bales 
are moving out rather freely to meet the 
demand that cannot be supplied by the short 
stocks of large bales. The market in Brooklyn 
is practically the same as it is in Manhattan. 
Timothy in large bales is bringing from $26 to 
$28 for No. 2 stock. Small bales bring a dollar 
less. No. 1 stock runs as high as $30, but there 
is not a great deal of it coming in. In fact, 
there is no No. 1 hay on the market at the 
present time. 
MARROW BEANS FIRM 
During the latter part of the week, there was 
a decidedly increased firmness reported on 
marrow beans. There is a shortage of this 
variety and there is a certain class of trade has 
developed quite a demand in this commodity. 
Right now the tone of the market is decidedly 
strong and 12 cents is the top price. White 
kidneys are also steady and red kidneys are 
improving slowly. The market on pea beans 
is quiet. 
POULTRY MARKET WEAK 
In spite of the fact that western advices 
seem to indicate a stronger tone to the market, 
nevertheless the supply of dressed fowls at the 
present time exceeds the demand. The market 
is weak and irregular on all fowls over 4 pounds. 
Under that weight stock is slightly more steady 
but the tone is so weak that prices in many 
cases have been shaded. 
Fresh killed chickens are in fair supply but 
nearly all stock is coarse, hard-meated and 
staggy. As a result prices are very irregular. 
As a matter of fact there is little or no fancy 
milk-fed stock coming in. 
The live poultry market is barely steady. 
In some cases the market is decidedly weak, 
especially in the case of live fowls. However, 
toward the end of the week, there was some¬ 
what of a steadying, tone with a slight firmness 
developing to the situation. Live poultry. 
coming in by express, tops the market at 32 
cents for chickens while express fowls are going 
no higher than 28 and most of the sales holding 
closer to 26 and 27 cents. 
EGG MARKET STEADY 
In spite of the bad receipts that have been 
considerable during the latter part of this week, 
clearances have not been complete, neverthe¬ 
less the surplus is not extraordinary. Although 
receivers are not disposed to carry any accu¬ 
mulations to speak of, nevertheless there is a 
general feeling throughout the market that the 
recent decline has had a tendency to stabilize 
the market, at least for the near future. Prices 
are holding steady and there is sufficient trad¬ 
ing to give a stable tone to the market. The 
storage egg market is quite firm. This is not so 
true of strictly fresh whites. Shipments from 
the Pacific Coast are increasing, reserves are 
accumulating quite fast. This flood of Pacific 
stock may have a tendency to keep down any 
upward trend. 
BUTTER GOES MILDER 
As the market closed, it displayed a fairly 
firm tone. A good demand has developed 
from various sources, and with the moderate 
offerings the price went up. It is reported in 
the market that there is a notable decrease in 
the supply of fancy trade grades. This is ex¬ 
plained by the fact that severe winter condi¬ 
tions have existed in many parts of the produc¬ 
ing area and farmers have been unable to get 
their milk to the stations. As a result of the 
shortage of fancy grades, undergrades have 
sold remarkably well at satisfactory prices. 
The consumption of butter has been to the 
advantage of producers. Foreign butter has 
been going into the chain store trade to a con¬ 
siderable extent. Arrivals of foreign stocks 
have been increasing, and advices indicate that 
heavy shipments will arrive in the next few 
weeks. 
CHEESE MARKET QUIET 
Trading is rather quiet as we go to press. 
Some receivers report a few sales, at 25c to 26c. 
Offerings of fresh cheese are not heavy, and 
there is no material change in the market. The 
market on held cheese right now is in the 
buyer’s favor. If weather conditions tighten 
up in the western producing area, we will un¬ 
doubtedly see a strengthening effect in another 
week. Fancy held flats are bringing from 25c 
to 26c, with average run stock from 24c to 
24%c. Fancy fresh flats, state, run from 21%c 
to 22%c, while average run hangs around 20c. 
The examples of cranberries and Cali¬ 
fornia oranges encourage us to believe 
that we too can overcome these problems 
by cooperative marketing. 
There is in Western New York a co¬ 
operative marketing organization hand¬ 
ling apples, which has been for seven years 
accumulating experience and establishing 
itself upon some sound fundamental 
principles. This organization is now en¬ 
gaged in a campaign to greatly enlarge 
its volume. It needs a large proportion 
of the volume if it is to renew the con¬ 
fidence of the trade that the market will 
be stabilized. 
Let me allay the possible fears of some 
of my consumer audience that this is a 
movement to control the volume, mon¬ 
opolize markets and arbitrarily raise 
prices. The protection of the public in 
this is, that if any cooperative ever did 
monopolize markets to the point of arbi¬ 
trarily fixing prices too high, the con¬ 
sumption of the product would fall off 
and at the same time overproduction 
would be stimulated. 
No. This is a movement in the direc¬ 
tion that former President Harding and 
President Coolidge both had in mind, 
when they said that the solution of the 
agricultural problem is cooperative mar¬ 
keting. 
It is a movement to remove specula¬ 
tion, to stabilize the markets so as to 
renew the confidence of the trade. It 
must so standardize the fruit so that 
absolutely no below-grade or out-of¬ 
condition apples ever reach the retailer. 
It must advertise so as to make you con¬ 
sumers eat more apples, thus giving your 
retailer a more steady demand. 
By doing these things, we growers in 
Western New York will get more money 
for our fruit, and more nearly the same 
money every year. And you consumers 
will not pay any more, probably not as 
much. What is very much more to your 
interest, we hope you will be able to buy 
good Western New York apples at any 
and every grocery and fruit store. 
Keeping a Cash Account 
MILK PRICES 
The Dairymen’s League Cooperative Asso¬ 
ciation announces that the net pool prices for 
January is $1.92 per hundred. The gross pool 
price for January was $2, from which there was 
deducted 8 cents for expenses and 5 cents for 
certificates of indebtedness. This leaves a net 
cash price to farmers of $1.87 per hundred. 
These prices are based on 3 per cent, milk in the 
201-210 mile zone. 
MEAT AND LIVE STOCK 
The market is firm and unchanged on prime 
veals. 17 cents seems the top quotation while 
common to medium runs from 10 to 14 3 ^ 2 - 
The market on lambs is steady . and un¬ 
changed from last week. 15% cents is the top 
price for prime stock. Average to good stock 
varies anywhere from 9% to 14% cents. 
The market has taken a slightly firmer tone 
on country dressed veal calves which are in 
only fair supply. There is only a small per¬ 
centage of the incoming stock that can be 
classed as really choice, which brought as high 
as 22 cents. Prime veals have not been bring¬ 
ing much over 19 cents, while average to good 
stock has been bringing 12 to 14 cents. Com¬ 
mon stock runs as low as 9 cents. 
The market on dressed hothouse lambs is 
rather irregular to slow. The supply is in¬ 
creasing and the quality of offerings is very 
irregular with the consequent effect upon the 
market. 
CASH GRAIN QUOTATIONS 
F. O. B., New York—WHEAT, No. 2, hard 
winter, $1.27%; No. 2, red, common, $1.26%; 
No. 2, mixed Durum, $1.17%.' CORN, No. 2, 
yellow, 98c; No. 1, white, $1; No. 2, mixed, 
96c. Oats, No. 2, 59 to 59%c; No. 3, 58 to 
58%c; fancy, white, clipped, 61% to 62%c; 
ordinary, white clipped, 59 to 59%c. Rye, 
No. 2, 83c. 
The Problem of Eden Today 
{Continued from 'page 175) 
this situation. We growers in Western 
New York are coming to believe that if it 
is ever corrected, we will have to do it. 
{Continued from page 180) 
thing of interest. I use as many pages in 
this journal each year as needed, after 
allowing fourteen pages for accounts and 
inventory. Each year, I make a list of 
persons who “passed over” whom I knew 
and a summary of weather and crops for 
the year. This I have been doing for 
twenty-nine years, and it is a source of 
great pleasure to look back and tell others 
when certain events occurred as well as 
for my own information and satisfaction. 
School Bill Cuts Taxes 
{Continued from page 191) 
Here is another town in WASHING¬ 
TON COUNTY, WHITE CREEK: 
Under Rural School Bill 
Assessed valuation of all districts: $1,935,266. 
True valuation as per State Tax report: $2,- 
7 3°,°91. , 
Number of teachers plus consolidated dis¬ 
tricts: 22. 
True valuation per teacher: $124,095. 
Per cent, of expense paid by State: 58>£. 
Expense of all schools 1922-23 less capital 
outlay and balance: $31,504.51. 
Part of this paid by State: $18,377.63. 
$200 per academic teacher: $1,000.00. 
Total public money: $19,377.63. 
Balance expense to be raised by tax: $12,126- 
88 . , , . , , 
Community district share of capital outlay. 
Amount of retirement fund 
Total to be raised by tax $12,126.88. 
Tax rate on assessed valuation: .0062. 
Same Districts under present System 
District 
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
Tax Rate 
.0128 
.008 
.0035 
.004 
.006 
.005 
District 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
Tax Rate 
.007 
.0051 
.0103 
.0124 
.005 
.0093 
State quotas under present system: $12,- 
832.97. 
The following are some interesting 
illustrations of how the School Bill would 
work in DUTCHESS COUNTY. 
Town: Fishkill. 
Equalized valuation: $2,229,400. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 10. 
Valuation per teacher: $223,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 26. 
Current expenses 1921—22: $18,020.55. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $4,685.34. 
State aid under bill for buildings: 10% 0 f 
cost. 
Present State aid: $4,056.40. 
Note: We call your attention again 
to the fact that the average valuation of 
rural districts is from $30,000 to $125,000. 
The town of Fishkill has a valuation per 
teacher of $223,000 and yet the State aid 
is so large that even this rich district will 
receive a little more public money under 
this bill than it does at present. 
Town: East Fishkill. 
Equalized valuation: $2,190,198. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 13. 
Valuation per teacher: $169,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 44. 
Current expense 1921-22: $16,475.49. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $7,249.21. 
State aid under bill for buildings: 15% of 
cost. 
Present State aid: $5,561.60. 
In ERIE COUNTY, we find these 
results in the town of EDEN: 
Equalized valuation: $3,378,603. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 18. 
Valuation per teacher: $188,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 37. 
Current expenses 1921—22: $27,054.97. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $10,010.34. 
State aid under bill for buildings: 15% of 
cost. 
Present State aid: $8,059.24. 
Perhaps you are interested in FRANK¬ 
LIN COUNTY: 
Town: Chateaugay. 
Equalized valuation: $2,974,878. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 30. 
Valuation per teacher: $100,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 67. 
Current expenses 1921-22: $36,592.70. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $24,517.11. 
State aid under bill for buildings: 20% of 
cost. 
Present State aid: $19,146.07. 
Town: Moira. 
Equalized valuation: $1,903,697. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 23. 
Valuation per teacher: $83,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 72. 
Current expenses 1921-22: $32,694.57. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $23,540.09. 
State aid under bill for buildings: 25% of 
cost. 
Present State aid: $15,556.21. 
FRANKLIN COUNTY AS A WHOLE 
Note: Using the State Tax Com¬ 
mission’s equalization rate of 52 per cent, 
and considering the county as a unit, 
the following figures are obtained. Ma¬ 
lone Village not included. 
Equalized valuation: $11,498,400. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 251. 
Valuation per teacher: $89,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 70. 
Current expenses 1921—22: $353,036.08. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $247,125.26. 
State aid under bill for buildings: 25% of 
cost (average). 
Present State aid: $149,241.72. 
Applying the bill in JEFFERSON 
COUNTY, we get the following results: 
Town: Ellisburg. 
Equalized valuation: $3,578,046. 
Number of teachers exclusive of special 
teachers: 36. 
Valuation per teacher: $100,000. 
Per cent. State aid: 67. 
Current expenses 1921—22: $35,409.37. 
State aid under bill for quotas: $23,724.27. 
{Continued on page 208) 
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