692 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 



operation these differences can be in a measure at least adjusted to the 

 satisfaction of farmer and merchant, and every one concerned. There 

 are many problems pressing for solution that we cannot discuss at this 

 time, but we shall mention very briefly a few that we believe could be 

 solved by co-operation between the farmer and the merchant. 



The standardization of farm products, not only the staple products, 

 but all farm products, including fruit, butter and eggs. We deplore the 

 practice of the local merchant in paying the same price for inferior 

 products that he does for the best, as he does with both butter and eggs. 

 Brother merchant, you owe it to yourself, to the producer and to the 

 consumer to discontinue this practice. Better system for marketing farm 

 products. Honest advertising. This is very important to the farmer, as 

 he is often induced to go some distance, only to find the advertisement 

 misleading and dishonest. Granting franchises by the city that concern 

 the farmer, such as the telephone franchises. Equalizing taxes, so that 

 farm and city property shall each bear their just proportion of the taxes. 

 The elimination of all unnecessary middlemen. Certainly the retail 

 merchant is in the best position to start this movement, by purchasing 

 his goods direct from the producer and the manufacturer. With all due 

 respect for their loyalty to the best interests of the city as they saw it, 

 we regret very much the action of the commercial clubs of many cities 

 in recent years opposing legislation very much needed, and designed for 

 the betterment of rural life and the farmer. We think these clubs took a 

 very selfish and narrow view of the situation, when they failed to ap- 

 preciate the fact that "Rural Free Delivery" and "Parcels Post" in bet- 

 tering rural life and the farmer, would also help the city. For what- 

 ever assists rural life, also helps build the city, and anything that im- 

 proves the city, its effects are felt by the farmer. Our interests are 

 mutual. 



We sincerely hope these clubs repent of their wrong doing of the past 

 and will sin no more. And if the farmer has been guilty of opposing any- 

 thing that would have been for the betterment of the city, let him also 

 cease from evil and do good. Let us have peace. We have called atten- 

 tion to these things, not with the spirit of complaint or fault-finding, but 

 with the best interest of all in view, hoping to see a satisfactory adjust- 

 ment by co-operation. 



It is our hope that in the future the cities and the farmers may forget 

 selfish interests, and unite in one supreme effort for the betterment of 

 every citizen of the nation in the world. Let us have better co-operation. 



WINTER HANDLING OF BREEDING EWES. 



BY HERMAN STEEN. 



(In Farmer and Breeder.) 



The shepherd's harvest, like other harvests, comes to pass in the 

 summer and the autumn; his seed time, unlike other seed times, comes 

 not in the spring, but in the winter when the snows cover the earth 

 and while the thermometer hovers around zero. 



