FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION 59 



RELATION BETWEEN THE TOWN MERCHANT AND 



THE FARMER IN UP-TO-DATE BUSINESS 



BUILDING. 



By J. D. Jarvis, Dairy Development Dept., The DeLaval Separator 



Company. 



We are living in a new era, a new age, and new business 

 problems are constantly before us. The business methods of 

 the merchant of a few years ago are not the business methods 

 of the merchant of today. There is a constant evolution in all 

 things, plants, animals, human beings and business methods. 

 This evolution is advancement. We are not turning back but 

 we are gradually progressing. We, as Americans, believe in 

 progress, believe in education, believe in building up and not 

 tearing down, believe in the spirit of providence and believe in 

 helping our fellow men. In fact the spirit of co-operation or 

 interdependence among all classes in business is the live issue of 

 today. 



Has the thought ever occurred to you. Gentlemen, that if 

 the merchant helps his customers to progress, he likewise will 

 progress? His customer is the farmer, he is the greatest pro- 

 ducer of any class in business ; likewise he is the greatest pur- 

 chaser. When he is successful then all are successful. When 

 he earns more money, he will spend more money. 



Since many farmers in this country did not have an oppor- 

 tunity to acquire a good basic knowledge of the science of ag- 

 riculture when they were young men, and hence are not as pro- 

 ficient as they should be, many manufacturing enterprises, 

 boards of trade and banking associations are devoting time, ef- 

 fort and expense to the betterment of agricultural methods. 

 There is an economic reason why the farmers should be gi^-en 

 this attention; according to James J. Hill, the great railroad 

 builder of the Northwest, ''Forty years ago a farmer had to pro- 

 vide for but one other than himself. Today every farmer must 



