78 PARCELS POST BRINGS DINNER 



only in the line of economy to thus deal with producers, 

 but the quality of edibles consumed by a household will be 

 improved. 



In nearly all discussions of the parcels post scheme the 

 advantages to city housekeepers have been obscured by 

 questions affecting country merchants and express com- 

 panies. The vital thing with a majority of people is the 

 effect on the cost of living. It is entirely feasible for tens 

 of thousands of families in large cities to establish direct 

 buying connections with producers. On the other hand, 

 the important thing to the farmer is not his ability to get 

 goods from mail-order houses more conveniently, but the 

 establishment of facilities by which he can obtain approxi- 

 mately the retail rate for miscellaneous produce. The new 

 system will enable him to go into mixed and intensive 

 farming, and make daily cash sales to consumers at fair 

 prices. 



There has been a constant outcry among farmers 

 against the alleged extortions of middlemen. The unsat- 

 isfactory handling of poultry and eggs, fruits, honey, 

 squabs and other delicacies has driven many farmers out 

 of these lines. They have missed the big profits because 

 of bad selling facilities, and in a sense have been forced 

 to confine their operations to one or two staples like grain 

 or milk. With producers in a helpless condition, the large 

 buying companies have controlled the trade, much to the 

 disadvantage of farmers generally. 



The widespread movement just now to correct unjust 

 conditions in the milk industry is one indication that 

 American farmers are trying to get out of the rut and do 

 things as business men would do them. 



The earning capacity of land is fully twice as much in 

 mixed farming as under a dairy or grain system. There 

 should be a balanced programme of poultry, hogs, cows, 

 vegetables and fruit. These things belong together, and 

 insure an even distribution of labor and a regular cash 



