HO DEEP FURROWS 



square and they actually have a typewriter ! They get 

 a car or two a month. Don't amount to anything." 



For a full hour he kept the chutes open and filled hii 

 interested auditor with all the lateit brands of mis- 

 representation and ridicule. He explained why it was 

 that the farmers' effort was nothing but a joke and 

 how foolish it would be for any farmer to send business 

 to it. He was a good salesman, this traveller, and he 

 was sure he had " sold " this rather intelligent havseed 

 when he got to the end of his talk and his station was 

 called. 



" I've really enjoyed this," assured Partridge grate- 

 fully. " As a farmer I'm naturally interested in that 

 sort of thing, you know, and I've got a particular 

 interest in that little grain company. My name is 

 Partridge and I only want to. say " 



But the traveller had grabbed his club bag and was 

 off down the aisle as fast as he could go. Salesmanship 

 is punctuated by " psychological moments " and good 

 salesmen always know when to leave. He did not look 

 around. His ears were very red. 



It was funny. No, it wasn't, either ! Lies about the 

 Company, thought the then President, would travel a 

 thousand miles before the Truth could get its boots on I 

 It was not a matter for amusement at all. 



As the " little dinky affair " became a competitor of 

 increasing strength in the grain trade the efforts of a 

 section of the grain men, particularly the elevator 

 interests, to discredit it among the farmers became 

 more and more marked. While the farmers' company 

 was not openly attacked, influences nevertheless were 

 constantly at work to undermine in roundabout ways. 

 The elevator men were in a strong position to fight hard 

 and they pressed every advantage. At practically every 



