FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 15 



with the directors or management of the company, and on the other 

 hand he must represent the factory and present their side when tallying 

 with the farmer. In fact he is the medium through which the most 

 friendly relations between the factory and the farmer are made possible. 



We have heard facts and figures from the factory's standpoint and 

 following this comes the farmer's side of the question, while I am sup- 

 posed to furnish the connecting link between the two to show the true 

 relations between the producer of the raw material and the manufacturer 

 of sugar. There can be no better illustration of the necessity of unity 

 of action than to contrast the existing conditions with what should 

 prevail. 



The farmer, by the nature of his occupation, is possessed of a greater 

 degree of independence than any other class. He is monarch of all he 

 surveys. He owns and conducts his business as he wishes and will not 

 be dictated to by anyone. 



In the sale of all other agricultural products the farmer is subject 

 to the dictation of the merchant or middleman, and is powerless to govern 

 in any way the market price of his products, but here comes a product 

 of the soil whose market is assured and price guaranteed, leaving only 

 one chance to be taken by the farmer, and that is the yield. Surely here 

 is an industry that deserves a more careful consideration on the part of 

 the farmer. 



In order to show the true relations that should exist between the 

 factory and the farmer, let me call your attention to two reasons why 

 each is interested in the success of the industry. First, and best of 

 all, is the amount of money that can be made ; second, the stability of the 

 industry and its future prospects. The factory should have a fair 

 remuneration for capital invested after all expenses are paid, and no one 

 will deny it the right to this. The farmer must realize as much or more 

 than he can from any other crop, or he will not engage in it. The farmer 

 should be more interested than the factory for several reasons. It is 

 manufacturing an article for consumption which is a necessity and a 

 staple product. It brings the market nearer the farm. Instead of ship- 

 ping the food products of our farms to foreign countries to feed the 

 cheap labor which produces the sugar that we consume, it brings the 

 consumer and producer into the closest relations possible, thus doing 

 away with unnecessary expenses in commissions, freight and transporta- 

 tion charges. It brings more labor nearer the farm, which creates 

 a greater demand for other products to feed that labor. It is producing 

 an article that is not a direct competitor of any other farm product. It 

 decreases the number of acres of other farm products and thus enhances 

 their value. It is a cash crop, and besides produces a food for stock. 

 It is not more exhaustive to the soil than other agricultural products. 

 It is the only general product of the soil that has a guaranteed market 

 and price. It is the most profitable crop and has the brightest prospects 

 for being permanent and more profitable. 



According to statistics of the Agricultural Department of the Secretary 

 of State for the year 1901, gathered through the supervisors of the vari- 

 ous townships, it is found that the average yield of wheat per acre is 

 12 bushels; corn, 35 bushels; oats, 31 bushels; potatoes, 100 bushels; 



