656 BOARD OF AGEICULTUKE. 



Having given a few^ of the benefits of a factory on the farm let us see 

 V7hy there are not more established in the country. 



The difficulty in the w^ay of establishing and successfully operating a 

 canning factory on the farm in a neighborhood wliere they have no ex- 

 perience in grovping canners' crops is: First. The scarcity in some sec- 

 tions of canners' produce. This, of course could, in time, be overcome if 

 the farmers are vs^illing to grow^ the produce; but few care to establish 

 a factory in such a locality on uncertainties, when other and possibly 

 better opportunities are offered, where there is an abundance of produce 

 and the farmers Avilling to grow and sell what they raise. Second. Too 

 great a difference between the farmer and packer in their ideas of price. 

 Many farmers that are not acquainted with the canning industry some- 

 times think that the packer can pay higher prices for their produce than 

 he can afford to. The farmer's price is often much higher than the actual 

 retail price in the cities. This seems to be the case if the packer is on 

 the farm. I have known some to sell the best of their crop, by the single 

 bushel for less than they had been offered for their entire crop. 



In growing for a cannery the farmer is able to grow the produce for 

 less money, as he is always sure of a mai'ket, and being sure of this, 

 can grow more extensively— having large crops they can be handled more 

 satisfactorily. It costs less to market the crops, as it saves long hauls 

 to railroad; it saves the crates which are required in shipping; also, the 

 extra expense in packing in small packages, freight, drayage, commission 

 and other expenses. 



If tomatoes can be grown at a profit for 20 cents per bushel in other 

 counties, they can in this. If peaches can be grown for 15 to 50 cents 

 per bushel, we certainly can do the same. We see hundreds of busliels 

 of New York apples going to the evaporators and canners at 7 and 10 

 cents. Can they be grown here at this price? Stop and figure what profit 

 there is in corn, wheat and hay. 



Third. Another difficulty in the way is that many farmers are un- 

 willing to make binding contracts to grow and deliver the production of 

 any crop, or contract to grow tomatoes or other vegetables several months 

 before the seed is usually sown. This is absolutely necessary to the suc- 

 cessful operation of any factory, because the packer must make his plans 

 far ahead, and in order to do this he must Ivnow somewhere near the 

 number of acres he will be able to secure, as this governs his future buy- 

 ing. This future contracting is, on the other hand, of advantage to the 

 farmers, as they know exactly what and how mudi to grow and that it 

 is sold as soon as grown. 



To overcome these difficulties the grower and packer must meet each 

 other half way. The farmers should talk witli farmers in other sections 

 who have grown for canners, and find out what their experience has been, 

 and what they receive for similar produce and compare their price with 

 the one they have been offered. Also ascertain if there is any profit in 



