132 AGRICUl/rURE OF MAIND. 



line of stock true to name, better grading and sorting and an 

 honest pack in all cases. It would be guess work to estimate 

 how many thousands of dollars have been lost by the farmers 

 of Maine on account of poor grading and sorting. This method, 

 however, has reduced the price of all Maine stock from five to 

 ten cents per bushel and if the bureau can bring about the 

 grading of the potato and apple up to the standard recognized 

 by the buyer it will add greatly to the wealth of the state of 

 Maine. 



There is no occupation so difficult as the organizing of any 

 line of trade and while it does not call for a man of unusual 

 ability it does call for a man of peculiar make-up. One of the 

 most unfortunate conditions to overcome is the fact that the 

 farmer and the townsman have both come to the conclusion 

 that the farmer cannot be organized. We meet and discuss 

 farmers' associations for the marketing of the product of the 

 farm. We would not think of discussing the Standard Oil 

 Company, the Great Northern Lumber Company, the United 

 Steel Co.. or any other of our large combinations as to their 

 ability to market their product. These conditions the Bureau 

 of Marketing and Supplies hopes to overcome, by submitting 

 positive proof that farmers' associations can successfully 

 market the product of the farm. 



First, we have the remarkable record of the Eastern Shore 

 of Virginia Produce Exchange, Inc. 



SUPPLEMENT.^RY DETAILS OF I913 BUSINESS. SUBMITTED BY 

 SECRETARY AND TREASURER. 



Gross sales of produce f. o. b $4,249,514 39 



Gross sales of produce consigned 394,288 44 



$4,643,802 83 



Seed potatoes purchased for members $ 60,837 66 



Printed covers 67,768 -jd 



Berry crates i IjS^- 73 



$140,108 15 



