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meet the wages of two men and to meet the expense of keeping the team 

 and wagon in the city livery stable. The consumers who purchase the 

 apples must pay, of course, the excessive cost of distribution, but the apple 

 growers are in no sense to blame for the high cost of apples in West Phila- 

 delphia. 



Frequently we hear of a consumers' league which is rendering most 

 excellent service in reducing the cost of living. This often means the 

 elimination of a certain number of middlemen. In order to accomplish 

 this it is necessary for residents to be provided with ample and satisfactory 

 storage facilities. Every city residence should have sufficient space to 

 store a barrel of potatoes, a barrel of apples, part of a crate of celery, a 

 basket or two of tomatoes, a barrel of sweet potatoes and other products 

 which are enjoyed by the family. It would then be possible to have ship- 

 ments made direct from the farm, or perhaps wholesale houses could 

 deliver to the residences without the products going through the hands 

 of several middlemen. This is a thoroughly practical proposition and 

 should receive attention by city consumers. There is no reason why every 

 new house erected in the city should not contain approved storage for the 

 foodstuffs that are used in every home. 



There is need of a greater number of rural co-operative associations. 

 We can not expect to realize the best results from either the city or the 

 country man's standpoint until the producers are better organized. Co- 

 operation, however, is impossible in any community unless the people of 

 the community want to co-operate. This is the great trouble in most of 

 the rural sections of Pennsylvania. Our people have not learned the real 

 value of co-operation. There is also need, of course, as previously indicated, 

 of city organizations which may be linked with the country organizations. 

 Our farmers want to know where to sell and the city consumers want to 

 know where to buy. I am well acquainted with many reliable growers of 

 apples in Pennsylvania who would like to do business direct with consumers 

 in Philadelphia. When such growers inquire of my office at State College 

 regarding consumers in Philadelphia who would like to buy direct from the 

 farm, we are unable to give them this information. You see at once the 

 need of city organizations which will link with the country organizations. 

 It seems to me that the function of the city organization will be largely 

 an informational bureau, which will be welcomed by farmers who desire 

 to do business in the city. 



There must be increased production in Pennsylvania. The need in 

 order to secure increased production is not more farmers but better farmers. 

 We want more farmers who are able to grow 30 bushels of wheat to the 

 acre instead of 15 bushels. We want more farmers who average 75 bushels 

 of shelled corn to the acre instead of 35. We want more potato growers 

 who can produce from 200 to 300 bushels of potatoes to the acre instead of 

 100. We want more poultrymen who are able to produce 150 eggs per 

 year instead of 100. In other words, better farming on lands now culti- 



