The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-13
VEGETABLES FOR THE CITY
now GREEN STUFF GETS IRON TIE
FARMER TO THE CONS UMER.
The Wagons TINT CopgreRnte IN Greenwich
street Before New York IL Awake In the
nIOrninR-The Snnihern Xcpcinhle Trndr.

FIRMER TO THE CONSUMER.
The Wagons TINT CopgreRnte IN Greenwich
street Before New York IL Awake In the
mOrning-The southern Vegetable Trade.
In the latter part of the day during tho
summer and tho fail, one will continually run
across queer-looklng wagons, heavily laden, and
their contents shut out from the vulgar gaze by
n big canvas cover, all coming from the dlrec.
ton OF tho ferries, and all going toward tho
same point These are the farmers wagons con-
talning New York city's supply OF fresh vegeta-
bles for the morrow, and bound for the vicinity
OF Washington Market. Those wagons are al
most invariably the product Of a country wheel.
wriphts skill. and are more remarkable for
strength than beauty. The bodies are narrow,
holding Just two bu shell baskets side by side.
After the body Is loaded-and sixteen baskets
Ill it-boards are laid across, making n sort OF
upper deck. and then. with rack to keep tho
produce from falling on, the farmer can pile on
oil he thinks his steeds can draw.
Country horses, as rule. are the hardest
worked animals In the world. They are not
only called upon to do the ploughlne, now
ing, and all the miscellaneous work about
farm for six days In the week. but even on the
seventh they get little or rest. In the morn
Ing they must take the family to church and
back. often a matter OF ten good miles: In the
afternoon city visitors are taken out rding-no
well-regulated farmer Is ever without city visit
ors on Sunday and In the evening the horse
must hurry over a long road for the benefit OF
the younger rustics who would a wooine 60.
THIS last bit OF work Is, after ALL the real serious
business Of the day to the horse, for. owing to
custom OF country lovers that has existed
from time immemorial, he seldom finds himself
In his stable before the all hours Of morning.
either the beauty Of the horse or tho gentleness
OF his disposition.
Most OF the farmers who drive to tho city to
Is city Of nearly 100000 Inhabitants. and yet the
farmer drives straight through II and brings hts
load to New York to dispose Of thus making
fresh vegetables. This Is because the New York
market makes the price. and on this side
or the water the farmer Is pretty sure OF
a speedy sale. Not only are the streets
~ the immediate vicinity OF Washington
night. but even as far up rs Fourteenth street
they Will be found doing u brisk business.
Farmers always try to stand IS near as possible
In the same place. for they have a certain line OF
regular customers who. II they can readily ind
the wagon. will give II their custom, but who
street. on account OF ITS width. Is a favorlte
locality, as Il also Greenwich street, from Cort-
landt quite up To Canal.
VERY EARLY VEGETABLES.
About O'Clock In the morning business opens.
struggling, bargaiuing crowd. Here "a Dutch
groceryman Is vanly trying to make himself
understood by an honest farmer from the south
aide % the island, BOYS are running about look.
Ing Tor some accommodating party who viii
and iro laden down with bushels Of potatoes. or
bags OF green beans BUYERS drive wildly up and
down the street looking either for scarce vegc-
tables or Tor a bargti in those that are plenty,
everybody In hurry, everyhody yelling ike
Sioux Indians to ind OUT, how muchf' aeood
MANI are swearing. and all are either buying
or selling. for people only 90 to early morning
market to do business. Every ten minutes or
so the street gets blocked up with Jam Of
grocery wagons, Deach-laden trucks and horse
cars, and II looks to the inexperienced observer
a. II there could be no strengthening them out
again. At nr.t every driver fails TO swe ring as
hard and as long ana IS loud as he can. hen
Que gives way little on one side. and another
on another side, a policeman brandishes his
club. and soon order comes out Of chaos, and
tue stream flows on.
A farmer aud a cartman once met In narrow
passage FORMED ov other wagons and trucks.
and both refused TO back out. The cartmsn WAS
over his morse s head, aud while the snimal pro.
ceedei to eat his breakfast the cart man perused
morning paper. II Is needless TO say that tbs
farmer 10 view Of n protracted siege, nnaliy gave
Ats o'clock In tho morning market Is over,
anu city ordin- nee clmpels the farmer to
move on. II he has not sold out 10y that time
be must either peddle his load about town or
close out at a sacrifice to some speculator.
These spectators. or New York city farmers,
as they are sometimes called are too often
frauds. They are bogus country men, Who 1--we
In the city aud own market wagon. they buy
stale produce At the lowest prices aud palm II
on on unsuspectins purchasers as being fresh
from the country.
wnen the farmer has secured his stand. he at
once unharnesses his tired horses and feeds
them. They must stand before the wagon all
nlght and got what rest they can. Only on very
cold nights are they stabbed. and as IL Is very
hard thing 10 convince a farmer thtt II ever Is
cold, their nights Of blissful repose In New
YORK are few ana far between. After farmer
has had his supper ana his pipe or cigar, II he Is
prudent man no viii 10 10 sleep. either on top
OF his load or at a hotel. But IL Is too often
only the elders who pursue TINS wise course.
Many of the rustic youths know that the great
city elephant Is Dose, and they have an over
weaving anxiety 70 interview MIN. They are
come acquainted with the very worst phases Of
tales OF city lie after dark and are regarded by
their neighbors men OF wide and varied eK-
pefiencs. Ihey are city men In the country,
but countrymen In the city.
DAN, THE CARRIER.
Whom truck Is sold. II the purchaser cannot
drive alongside aud secure his stur. II must he
sent to him, even II he IS four or Eve blocks
swav. This part Of the work Is done By carriers.
They are mostly good stout lri>hmen. and II Is
surprising 10 see the ease with which they walk
OF under load OF tushe baskets, never spill
Dan. the carrier" knows and Is known ty
eveIv farmer who visits the market. Dan Is a
character. Broad shOudored. good nltured and
clear beaded, he Is one OF the best Informed
men on the stand. II you want 10 know tho
lowest price Of produce. You must 90 to Dan.
II you wish to learn II a certain farmer Is down.
and where he stands. Dan IL the man to inform
you. lie l. a shrewd and long. beaded Irish
man. lie began carrying IN a humble way, and
"a he soon made himself fayOTite with the
farmers, his business increased until he was
obliged to hire a helper. Fortune smiled on
hun, and to-day he employs over twenty men.
As ne receives one dollar from each OF his Gus
TONERS Tor CARRYING away load, he II Rapidly
making money. Almost the first thing the
farmer does when he arrives on the stand Is to
call loudly for Dan. II het, not about him self
one of his men always Is. ami, 10y the wty they
all seem To be called Dan, or. a. least they all
answer to that name. ana he jumps on the way
on aud duy : or ana secures good place.while
the farmer goes To supper,
Unless farmer Is well posted he is apt to
stand In front OF some store that opens very
early In the morning to receive goods. In that
case he Is Obliged t. drive out aud before lie
can secure another place marNet Is apt To he
over, ana he stuck with hi> load. Ddn, VINO
knows every inch OF the street, never allows any
Of his customers to md themselves In ANY such
Iredicament. Dan attends t1 everything. lie
sees tuat the horses are fed. that the ingd IL
properly protected, and. ia the absence Of the
farmer. waits on customers. ManN a farmer
comes d lwn from his hotel In Inc mnruing to
fnd that the well-illed wagon he mad len tut
few hours before Is entirely enptN. But he Is
not AZ all alarmed. for he knows ina tur money
for hi, iruck Is safely slowed nw ~ IN Dams ca
paciuu- luckrt. for that Individual never misses
n good sale, whether the owner H. about or not.
lie Il US honest n the sun, and some turner's
would rather he would sell their loads thAn
they themselves, rs he has happy knick Of
getting big prices. lie keeps no hooks or mem
OTauua of any KIND, and never makes mistake