114 THE GROUNDSWELL. 



workers of small farms must lose. Mutual assistance and 

 co-operation will obviate this in a great degree. 



A single instance will suffice to illustrate the point here 

 presented. I once had occasion to purchase nineteen corn 

 cultivators in one season, having increased the area of corn 

 to require this additional number. Two of my neighbors 

 wanted three each, making twenty-five in all. I wrote let 

 ters to several manufacturers, asking the lowest cash price 

 for the quantity. The dealers at the nearest railroad town 

 soon found out what I had done, and waited on me, offering 

 to sell at prices lower than the factory price and freight 

 would cost me, being content with the relative difference 

 between the freight on my twenty-five, and the freight on 

 car lots. They did not relish this interference with their 

 prerogatives, but, of course, they could not help themselves. 

 This was before the manufacturers combined to sell only 

 through their agents. They are beginning to find that the 

 project of forcing farmers to buy of whom they please, 

 and as they please, is like having too many cooks in making 

 broth the dish is sure to be spoiled. 



