88 The Sweet Potato 



The business-like plant-dealer never sends a customer 

 one variety of plant when another has been ordered 

 without first asking whether the substitution is satisfac- 

 tory. The very best business principles must be used 

 in the oflSce if satisfied customers are to be gained. 



The office force tabulates each order by making an 

 order sheet in duplicate. One copy of this order-sheet 

 is sent to the man in charge of the packing-shed together 

 with corresponding shipping tags. One system of hand- 

 ling money must be adopted and rigidly adhered to. 

 It is best that all orders go through the office in the reg- 

 ular prescribed way, and no plants sold directly from 

 the beds without making a record of same. Of course 

 the particular system to be used will be worked out in 

 each case by the owner in such a manner as to fit his spe- 

 cific conditions. As with any other business, there are 

 many possible " leaks " that must be avoided if profit is 

 to result. 



Advertising. 



Although a dealer may be able to grow the most per- 

 fect plants at the proper time and season and with a 

 minimum cost for production, unless he can dispose of 

 them at a profitable price, his enterprise is a failure. 

 It should not be concluded that advertising in its proper 

 sense can be done in any one year or two years and 

 through newspapers and farm journals alone. Any 

 broadly successful business is gradually built up through 

 long years of earnest and concerted effort, by fair deal- 

 ing always and with the continued aid of the printed 

 announcement. A satisfied customer is the best ad- 

 vertisement. The classified ad columns of the leading 

 farm weeklies seem to be one of the most popular and 



