6 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



the crop. It seems that the arguments are entirely in favor of 

 small crops, from the standpoint of the producer, rather than 

 of large crops, because large crops mean small prices. It means 

 the taking of less fertility from the soil and shipping it to 

 market, in the shape of foods which cannot be replaced in the 

 shape of fertilizer or fertilizing material, for the amount of 

 money that is frequently received for the food itself. This is 

 indeed regrettable, but regrettable as it is, it is a fact that the 

 agricultural community usually suffer with feast or famine. 

 Diversify their crops as they will and use all the foresight 

 possible, not only to meet the market conditions, but to meet 

 current expenses, and still they are defeated, owing to the fact 

 that the consuming population, as soon as potatoes rise in 

 price, look for vegetables in the shape of cabbage, turnips and 

 beets. Thus the market moves, back and forth, up and down, 

 each article of food taking its turn as the supply increases or 

 decreases, by the evasion of the consumer upon the cheapest 

 food commodity. This uncertainty in the market, added to 

 the requirements of producing the crop, weighs heavily upon 

 the agricultural community. Most farmers desire, and desire 

 only, that their crops shall be sold at a profit at the time of 

 its harvest, or a little later, without gambling with the neces- 

 sities of the consuming public. If, however, it is sold, the spec- 

 ulator makes upon the commodity whatever profit he can and 

 has the added advantage of acquainting himself with the ave- 

 nues through which this produce reaches the consumer. The 

 next season, this same speculator, more certain of his position, 

 owing to the fact that the information relative to the market 

 conditions and market people are his instead of the producers, 

 bids lower for the crop than its actual cost. This condition 

 would invariably prevail were it not for the fact that the farm- 

 ers had taken pains through different organizations and asso- 

 ciations to inform themselves relative to market conditions. 

 This is the excuse for the Department of Agriculture having 

 allied with its force a bureau of markets. 



The activities of the Department have been nmning at full 

 swing, and every effort has been made by all of the attaches to 

 respond to the demands of the public. These activities are 

 conducted under the various bureaus — markets, horticulture, 

 seed improvement, inspection, weights and measures, dairy. 



