100 FARM MANAGEMENT 



developed in the Central West. A single breeder far from 

 this region often finds it difficult to secure good prices. 

 His neighbors do not know what the animals are worth, 

 as they have no basis for comparison. The owner him- 

 self finds it very difficult to keep up on prices. The 

 neighbors are often the best market if orie has the right 

 breed. Manufacturers realize the advertising value of 

 the community, so that we have developed shoe centers, 

 furniture centers, and clothing centers. Even within a 

 large city, the similar industries tend to group themselves. 

 Buyers are then attracted to the center in a way that no 

 one firm could attract them. The skilled labor is also 

 easier to secure. 



Unless there is some definite reason for doing otherwise, 

 one should follow the same general type of farming as 

 his neighbors and keep the same breeds of live-stock. 



Sometimes one may go in just the opposite direction 

 so as to supply a local need, as has been previously men- 

 tioned, such as growing vegetables for local use in a grain 

 and stock country. 



73. Difficulty of changing the type. Sometimes a 

 type of farming that is not best for the region becomes 

 established. Frequently a change in conditions makes a 

 change in the farming desirable. The wrong type may 

 continue for years, because it is so hard to make the 

 change. The equipment, the farm buildings, city ware- 

 houses, the markets, the knowledge of the people, may 

 all need to be changed. This makes the problem a very 

 difficult one, even if there were no conservatism to be 

 considered. It has been aptly said that no one but the 

 sheriff can change a type of farming. 



The opening of the grain country of the Central West 

 required a complete readjustment of Eastern agriculture, 



