426 FARM MANAGEMENT 



states are now advocating laws to control the commission 

 business. The condition is now intolerable. Like our 

 whole marketing system, it needs a thorough overhauling. 



261. Farm auctions. Farmers usually sell products 

 that are staple. For this reason, they do not realize the 

 importance of advertising when the occasion demands it. 

 When one is to have a farm auction, or if he wishes to 

 sell equipment or stock at a private sale, the advertising 

 is of great importance. Very rarely is a farm auction 

 properly advertised. Farmers do not make enough use 

 of papers or the rural mail delivery. In addition to the 

 posted hand bills, an auction ought to be advertised in 

 each of the papers of the region. It is not enough to 

 advertise in the paper that agrees with one in politics. 

 The bid of a Democrat is just as acceptable as the bid of 

 a Republican at a sale. The advertisements need not be 

 very expensive. A few lines in the proper place in each 

 paper will accomplish the purpose. It is also desirable 

 to get the names of farmers from telephone books, asses- 

 sors, or otherwise, and mail each one a sale bill. 



Only rarely are the products at a sale properly ar- 

 ranged. The essential thing is that all the articles be so 

 arranged that they can be readily seen by all the bidders. 

 Hogs in a pen that is not readily accessible do not sell 

 well. Whenever possible, the arrangement should be such 

 that the bidders can form a half circle around the article. 

 A little attention to these matters will save many dollars. 

 Nothing so reduces the desire to bid as uncertainty as to 

 what one is bidding on. 



It is well to have a list of cost prices of articles. These 

 may be given out by the owner or auctioneer. Many a 

 bidder hesitates because he does not know just what the 

 article cost when new. Prices should be absolutely honest ; 



