MARKETING GRAIN AT COUNTRY POINTS. 23 
farmer attempts collection the buyer has disappeared. Often the 
scoop shoveler may contract to purchase a farmer’s grain at a certain 
figure. If the market declines before delivery is made, the farmer 
_ either finds the buyer has gone or that it is impossible for him to take 
the grain and pay forit. Oneinstance was noted where a scoop shoveler, 
in contracting for grain from farmers for future delivery, proffered 
a written contract, which at first glance appeared binding, but further 
scrutiny disclosed in fine type in one corner these words: “ This 
contract shall not be dated or closed until the above price or better 
can be paid.” This statement meant that unless the price of grain ad- 
vanced to a profitable point for the buyer before the grain was de- 
livered the contract was worthless. | 
There are many honest scoop shovelers, including not only con- 
~sumers or small dealers who come into producing territory occasion- 
ally, but also men of limited means who obtain their start in the grain 
business in this manner. The manager of one of the largest milling 
companies in the West at the present time made his entry into the 
grain business with a scoop shovel. For his own protection, how- 
ever, the farmer should investigate carefully the responsibility of 
itinerant purchasing agents before selling his grain to them. 
While the activities of the scoop shoveler occasionally causes 
marked losses both to regular dealers and to farmers, as well as to 
country bankers and merchants, at times his restraining influence 
upon the country dealer can not be denied. In fact, the manager of 
a line company operating a large number of country houses recently 
intimated there was little danger of his company ever seeking ex- 
cessive margins, for whenever this was attempted scoop shovelers 
would immediately begin buying grain at each of the stations. 
CONTRACTING WITH FARMERS FOR FUTURE DELIVERY. 
It is the common practice of certain elevator managers to bargain 
with farmers for the future delivery of grain. In the ordinary 
course of events such bargains are entered into during the harvesting 
season, but at times an arrangement providing for the future delivery 
of grain is agreed upon several months before the grain is actually 
harvested. In one community it is said that two-thirds of the oat 
crop is disposed of in this manner soon after the séed is sown. 
KINDS OF CONTRACTS. 
There are two forms of contract in common use. The simplest 
and most common agreement is one in which the farmer agrees to 
deliver, on or before a certain date, for a stipulated price, the surplus 
grain produced upon his farm. This form of contract is sometimes 
