912 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



Such organizations must be willing to pay the price necessary to secure 

 a good manager. It is good business to purchase directly from producers 

 so far as it is possible. 



The Producer's Share. — The producer of food supplies is complaining 

 bitterly of the small share of the consumer's dollar which he receives. 

 Farmers producing vegetables, fruit, potatoes and milk suffer more in this 

 respect than do those who produce the staple crops, such as corn and 

 wheat. The latter pass through a less number of hands and are sold in 

 larger quantities. 



The remedy for the farmer will not be found until the farmers them- 

 selves organize for the purpose of solving their own problem and protecting 

 their own interests. In numerous localities, the farmers have organized 

 and are selling their produce through the organization, adopting a system 

 of grading and a style of package found to be best suited to the market on 

 which their goods are placed. In this way prices have frequently been 

 increased from 50 to 100 per cent above what they were before they were 

 organized. 



Such organizations may also profit by purchasing fertilizers, seeds, 

 feeds, coal, farm machinery and shipping packages by wholesale. In this 

 way the goods are secured at lower prices and much is saved in freight 

 by carload rates. 



Aside from financial benefits, farmers come to know each other better, 

 trust one another more fully and profit by the leadership of those best 

 qualified to lead. 



Legislative Regulations of Commission Business. — The commission 

 business offers opportunities for gross irregularities. There is plenty of 

 evidence to show that unscrupulous commission men have made false 

 reports to the farmer, relative to the condition of his goods upon arrival 

 at the market and the price for which they were sold. In such instances, 

 the farmer is at a decided disadvantage and is usually unable to secure 

 redress. It is important that farmers ship only to commission men who 

 have a reputation for honest and fair dealing. 



Commission merchants should be compelled by law to keep records 

 and accounts of their business, and these should be open to inspection with 

 reference to their regularity. Should a question of unfairness arise on the 

 part of the farmer, the records of the merchant should show the condition 

 of the goods when received, the price for which sold and the parties to whom 

 sold. Such a requirement would provide for establishing the truth relative 

 to the condition of goods and price received. 



The law should also protect the farmer against the commission man 

 who voluntarily goes into bankruptcy for the purpose of swindling the 

 farmer. 



Advertising. — When the farmer goes to town, he sees on the front 

 of every business house the name of the firm and usually finds a display 

 of goods to attract attention. This is advertising. As one drives through 



