MARKETING BROOM CORN. 



19 



with loads of brush with but few sales effected. Late in the day 

 many farmers, wishing to sell and go home, are prompted to solicit 

 bids. The bids, if obtained, are unsatisfactory and are seldom 

 raised. The farmers get discouraged and take the best offer that 

 has been made rather than spend another day on the market, especi- 

 ally when they have no assurance of a higher price. This depressed 

 market condition, which actually exists on many days, is explained 

 by the fact that the dealers are there to buy, but lack orders or they 

 may have orders for kinds not being generally offered. Prices, too, 

 being paid by some may be higher than those at which others have 

 authority to buy. The " sweating " is a condition often experienced, 



Fig. 4. — A busy day on a street market at Lindsay, Okla. 



but it is generally felt by farmers that the process is a premeditated 

 endeavor among buyers to effect big savings. 



In the Lindsay district many farmers arrange with their neighbors 

 to assist in hauling and it is not uncommon to see several loads of 

 broom corn representing the entire crop of one grower on the streets 

 of this market at one time. (See fig. 4.) Some growers think they 

 sell to better advantage this way, especially if there is enough to 

 make a carload. 



During the busy season the streets are well filled by 10 o'clock in 

 the morning and often before that time. In fact, many haul at 

 night or late in the afternoon in order to be on the market early 

 the following day. The choice of locations where buyers are more 

 likely to give their loads attention may be a cause for early hauling 

 at Lindsay, but in most street markets the location is of minor 

 importance. 



