130 



dor", or agent for a grain-broking firm. From another 

 standpoint the ' * almacenero " cannot allow more than 

 a limited credit, without unduly risking the account by 

 making it too large. In no case will the terms of the 

 loans be improved, for competition is rarely sufficient- 

 h r severe to favour the farmer, though he visits all the 

 ' ' almaceneros " and grain brokers' agents or "acopia- 

 dor" in the vicinity, and puts off accepting their terms 

 till the last minute. 



When he has accepted the best terms he can get, 

 the lender, only in exceptional cases a person who is 

 not party to purchasing his cereals, generally prefers 

 to deposit the sums or the amount j)f the credit with one 

 or the other of the "almaceneros," who act generally as 

 the local bankers. 



It is almost impossible for the average farmer to 

 do without the "almacenero", and there is no reason 

 to attribute any particular blame to the "almacenero" 

 if he takes advantage of the system in vo^ue. Every- 

 body is out "to make his America", and there is no 

 denying that the "almacenero" works as. hard as any 

 one else in the process. 



The "almacenero" stands and falls with his clients 

 the farmers, he advances for their necessities, pays the 

 labourer, on their chits, acts as the farmer's agent in 

 nearly everything, and demands to be recompensed 

 accordingly. Where the risk is greater he recuperates 

 in higher charges. 



The farmer, with the result of his year's labours in 

 sight, twixt devil and the deep sea, falls to the first who 

 offers the least difficulty in handing over the necessary 

 funds . 



He receives the money at a nominal low rate for 

 the short period he requires it, but binds himself to sell 

 his cereals at cheaper than the actual rate ruling at 

 the date of delivery. That he rarely makes a good bar- 

 gain is not his fault, he does his best : that he often 

 makes a bad bargain, well grin and bear it, if he can't 

 get out of it. 



.As we have seen, he generally runs great risks, but 

 he does so, it is true, when nominally the chances are 

 equally great for the other party. He may fail to har- 

 vest the quantity he has expected and agreed to deliver, 

 he may have to buy elsewhere to make up the amount 

 and if he does so he will have to pay more for it than 

 he himself receives for his own crop, otherwise, unless 

 he comes to terms with this creditors, he is a defaulter 

 and can be hauled up before the law and made to pay. 



