DRYING AND HANDLING THE CROP. 37 



MARKETING. The principal markets for Broom-corn 

 are New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. 

 Some few commission merchants devote themselves ex- 

 clusively to this article, while many general commission 

 merchants deal in it largely. The commissions, cartage, 

 storage, and other expenses, materially reduce the profits, 

 and those growers are fortunate who can, as many do, 

 make a contract directly with the manufacturers of 

 brooms, even at a price less than the current quotations, 

 as the saving of the various charges made upon consign- 

 ments, more than compensates for the difference in price. 



It is the misfortune attending the cultivation of special 

 crops, such as Broom-corn, Hops, Oil of Peppermint, 

 etc., that they are made the subject of speculation. It 

 is true that this happens with the general crops, such as 

 wheat, but not to the extent that it does with those in 

 the cultivation of which but few persons are engaged. 

 With these special crops it is easy for speculators to learn 

 almost the exact number of acres under Broom-corn in 

 the whole country, and the probable amount of the crop, 

 and they sometimes manage to control very nearly the 

 whole product. All that the farmer can do is to avoid 

 entering into any combinations, or any agreement to hold 

 his crop, but to sell whenever the price seems to him a 

 fair and paying one. 



COMMISSIONS AND CHARGES. The following are about 

 the usual charges made by commission merchants upon 

 consignments of Broom-corn in the New York market : 



Car-loads, sold without handling, a commission of. .2>/ 2 per cent. 



Broom-corn sold from the store, commission of 5 " " 



Guaranteeing sales on time 2y a " " 



Storage for each bale, per month 7 J /2 to 15 cents. 



Cartage per bale (average) 15 " 



Labor in handling, per bale (average) 20 " 



Insurance varies from 1 to 2 per cent. 



PRICES. The prices in the New York market for the 

 last five years have averaged as follows : 



