244 The Potato 



tions. The large potato companies usually have from one 

 to several buyers in the more important potato-growing 

 sections, to purchase from the farmers and ship the pota- 

 toes, at their direction, to the best markets. These buyers 

 handle potatoes at 4 to 8 cents a bushel. The agents of 

 the farmers' warehouses, who are dealing in other prod- 

 uce as well and have lower running expenses, are able to 

 handle a bushel for about 3 cents. 



In many of the large cities there are companies which 

 handle only potatoes. These companies get potatoes 

 from the farmers through the local buyers, and then 

 by means of telegraph and telephone ascertain the 

 best markets and direct the shipment of the cars to 

 them. They are handling great quantities of potatoes 

 and can afford to spend large sums in order to get their 

 goods to the best market. Companies of this sort 

 often pay telephone charges of over one thousand 

 dollars a month. 



Where farmers can be persuaded to cooperate and to 

 place faith in the organization and in its agents, the co- 

 operative method of selling potatoes has proved very satis- 

 factory. Such organizations have agents in the small 

 towns near which the members live. These agents receive 

 potatoes from the farmers, and ship them at the direction 

 of the manager of the company. These managers have to 

 compete with the large potato companies, and are often 

 at a disadvantage in getting information as to markets.' 

 Farmers' companies should either be in touch with large 

 distributors or arrange with some company for "buying 

 information." 



Local dealers usually find it necessary to sort and clean 

 the potatoes brought to them, since growers seldom 

 make a practice of sorting carefully. Potatoes are sorted, 



