LEARN HOW TO GO BACK TO THE LAND 47 



The good and bad years will average up pretty well, 

 after yielding returns more or less remunerative, as deter- 

 mined by the amount of knowledge possessed by the 

 grower and the degree of skill with which this knowledge 

 is brought to bear upon the problems incident to the 

 business. 



The factor of market is one that enters largely into the 

 problem of securing adequate returns for our labors, and 

 with such perishable products as small fruits under cer- 

 tain conditions, the problem ofttimes becomes a serious 

 one. 



The value of a product at any given time is determined 

 by the law of supply and demand. The consuming class 

 of any prescribed district will use but a certain quantity 

 of any product at a value which will allow the grower 

 exceptional remuneration. The demand at such values 

 will always be within a prescribed limit, as an exceptional 

 value causes any food products to become a luxury. 



To illustrate : The strawberries on a certain market are 

 selling freely at 15 cents per box. There is just about 

 an even balance between supply and demand. We will 

 suppose that the supply of such fruit on the market be 

 increased 50 per cent. Will the entire amount then sell 

 at 15 cents? Most assuredly not! 



Drop the price to 12^ cents, however, and the increase 

 in consumption will provide a market for the increased 

 supply, for those who have been eating 15-cent berries 

 will eat more freely of this fruit, and some who cannot 

 afford to buy at the higher price will begin to do so at 

 the lower figure. 



A still greater increase in the quantity of such fruit 

 placed upon the market will cause a still further decline 

 in values, in order to maintain an even balance between 

 supply and demand. 



-To be sure, when united in an association, growers 

 may, through this association, often maintain more equa- 



