166 Cooperation in Agriculture 



chant to whom her eggs have gone, rather than with 

 money. 



" Frequently the merchant pays the farmer 2 or 3 cents 

 a dozen more than he receives for the eggs when sold by 

 him, thus inflating the price. The merchant recovers 

 his loss on his merchandise and holds the trade of the 

 farmer, but the man who makes a business of buying eggs 

 suffers, and so does the townsman who has no eggs to 

 trade, but must pay the same money price for goods that 

 the farmer pays in eggs. 



"Again, the merchant will buy 'case count' rather 

 than 'loss off,' fearing to offend his patron. Hence, 

 the produce dealer must do the same, because of the scar- 

 city of eggs, close competition, and the farmer's lack of 

 business knowledge. He cannot see that he actually 

 loses money at the merchant's. 



"To prevent the loss in eggs due to the country mer- 

 chant, a cash business on the quality basis should be in- 

 stituted. Then the small egg merchant could buy 'loss 

 off,' pay for the eggs in money, and the farmer could 

 purchase his supplies where they are best and most rea- 

 sonable. If competition were placed where it belongs, 

 among the regular egg-buyers, the eggs would go to market 

 more rapidly and in better condition. 



"Another bad habit which is gaining in the country- 

 side is the leaving at the farm by the packer or merchant 

 of carriers holding 30 dozen. The farmer waits until the 

 case is full before marketing. This is not objectionable 

 when the flock is large or production rapid, but out of 

 season or on the small place it means three or four weeks' 

 holding to get a full 30-dozen box. 



