784 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



periods of scarcity. At the same time it suggests the danger of 

 a possible control of the market a danger seemingly less omi- 

 nous where several channels between producers and consumers 

 are afforded by the direct method. 



The evil of selling storage eggs as fresh points to the need 

 of legislation placing public cold-storage plants under government 

 regulation and control. 



THE EARLY METHOD OF EGG-MARKETING 



The early method of marketing eggs from the farm was to 

 bring them to the country merchant, who received certain farm 

 products in trade for groceries, dry-goods, or other wares for sale 

 in the store. This method proved very helpful to the average 

 farmer under pioneer conditions. Aside from the returns of the 

 grain crop in the fall, there was as a rule no income forthcoming 

 during the different seasons of the year except what could be 

 secured in trade for butter and eggs or the occasional sale of live 

 stock. This advantage was especially apparent during years of 

 partial or complete crop failure resulting from hail, rust, or the 

 ravages of the grasshopper or chinch bug. Many a family in 

 the Northwest has thus seen its cash crop swept away in a few 

 moments and has been forced to tide over to the next season 

 by limiting the expenditures of the household to the meager 

 returns from eggs and butter. 



This method of egg-marketing was also helpful to the country 

 merchant because his trade was limited mainly to farmers, and 

 sales had to be made on long-time credit, awaiting the returns 

 of the fall crop. In the event of failure in the fields, it was 

 necessary to extend credit till the following season. Because of 

 the prevalence of long-time credit to the farmer, it was necessary 

 for the merchant to adjust his obligations to the wholesaler or 

 jobber by means of loans from a local bank or with the dealers 

 themselves. 



To the extent, however, that farmers brought eggs or butter 

 to the store the merchant had for a time the benefit of almost 

 a cash transaction. The shipment of butter and eggs brought 



