The Farmers' Union 



to an unknown man. The stranger may be safe, 

 but why run the risk? Large farmers have no 

 trouble in selling their produce to reputable 

 maltsters or merchants, and are quite able to take 

 care of themselves, but the small holders are 

 often in a poor plight, for if a merchant disputes 

 their deliveries, they cannot afford the delay and 

 risk of re-sale, so they do the best they can — and 

 suffer. If they have the least rudiment of sagacity 

 they will join the Union to a man. 



I must say again here that I do not attack 

 buying firms as a whole. Many are above suspicion, 

 and. by their upright dealing, gain the confidence 

 of farmers. On the other hand, there are unscru- 

 pulous farmers. Every merchant can tell his tale 

 of woe, for some men seem incapable of selling 

 by an honest sample. Of course, in wheat, oats, or 

 barley, small variations in quality do not greatly 

 affecl: the price, and a discrepancy may be remedied 

 by a small allowance, but, in certain classes of 

 produce, such as peas, beans, mustard, clover 

 seed, or hay, there is a great difference. Peas 

 may vary as much as £i per sack, according to 

 the amount of bad or worm-eaten corns, and 

 the farmer who picks some of these out on his 

 way to market to " improve the sample " may 

 consider it an easy way of earning money, but 

 it entails serious trouble for some one, like all 



17 c 



