142 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



But tlie small crop of late potatoes which was harvested this 

 fall throughout the most of New England, has had but a slight 

 effect on the prices of that article in our markets. Tlie defi- 

 ciency in all the various crops the past season, has been more 

 than supplied -by shipments from distant States. Potatoes from 

 Pennsylvania and Illinois, cabbages from Michigan and Northern 

 New York, and onions from Ohio may be found in almost every 

 market of any note in Eastern Massachusetts. Tiicse are sig- 

 nificant facts, and indicate very clearly who in future are to be 

 our competitors. 



Next in importance to the production of a good crop, is the 

 marketing the same to a good advantage. 



Much of the pecuniary success in farming is attributable to 

 good market facilities, and the peculiar tact that some farmers 

 have of selling their produce at the. right time and place, and 

 in a way that will turn the greatest profit. Where a farmer is 

 so situated that he can take his surplus produce on to his wagon 

 and drive to the door of the consumer, he is sure to realize more 

 for it than he can in any other way ; while at the same time 

 the purchaser gets a better article at a less price. This is de- 

 cidedly the most natural, simple and economical way of mar- 

 keting farm produce. Here, the producer meets the consumer 

 face to face, their relations soon become intimate, and they 

 readily learn to depend on each other. Were this system prac- 

 ticable with all farmers we should have no more to say. But 

 unfortunately for many farmers, they are located so far distant 

 from the great markets of the country, that they are compelled 

 to consign their produce to some commission house, whose 

 advertisement has accidentally caught their eye, and who have 

 earned an enviable reputation for " quick sales and prompt 

 returns." Whoever has had much experience in this method 

 of marketing, and received in return the usual " net proceeds to 

 creditor, trusting that the same will be both pleasing and satis- 

 factory," need not be told how pleasing and satisfiictory such 

 returns often are. A large portion of the small fruits, milk 

 and vegetables that are consumed in our large cities, in fact 

 nearly all produce that finds its way thither through channels 

 of public transportation, is handled by parties whose business it 

 is to make money; that they succeed in their business we have 

 abundant reason to believe. The freight, cartage and storage 



