282 PRINCIPLES OF RURAL ECONOMICS 



favorable terms, and is no serious drawback from the standpoint 

 of the individual farmer. But there is no reason why cooperative 

 credit associations, with limited liability, should not have con- 

 siderable development in this country. 



Problems of selling. The problem of selling the farm crops 

 involves some of the same questions as the problem of buying ; 

 whether, for example, to sell directly to consumers or to mid- 

 dlemen, whether to sell individually or cooperatively, and other 

 similar questions, involve the same considerations as were men- 

 tioned in the discussion of the general problem of buying. As 

 already pointed out, the problem of selling is a relatively simple 

 one, so long as the farmer grows only staple crops. For such 

 crops there is always a market at some price, and the price is 

 always quotable. But the grower of agricultural specialties must 

 look for a special market. Where such a special market exists 

 he may succeed in getting a special and highly remunerative 

 price, but unless he succeeds in rinding a special market he 

 may not be able to sell his product at any price. Therefore 

 everything depends on a special market and the farmer's special 

 skill as a seller. 



In the selling of farm crops, either staple or special, there are 

 certain general considerations of importance to the student of 

 economics and incidentally to the farmer as well. There are, for 

 example, four well-recognized methods of selling : first, selling 

 by individual units ; second, selling in bulk ; third, selling by 

 sample ; and fourth, selling by grade or standard. These four 

 methods may be illustrated as follows : In the sale of a horse, 

 particularly a blooded horse, the first of these methods is alone 

 possible. Each individual horse has his own individual qualities 

 and his own individual value. Each individual is therefore a unit 

 and is sold as a unit. In the selling of beef cattle or hogs the 

 whole bunch will be sold at a specified price per pound or per 

 hundredweight, but the whole bunch must be seen by the buyer 



