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TALKING OVER THE CROP PROSPECTS. 
All the speculation in crops does not take place 
at the New York Produce Exchange or at the com¬ 
mercial centres of other large cities. Many trans¬ 
actions, some of them of considerable importance, 
occur in country stores, village taverns, and even 
in the farm houses. Within a few years a new 
branch of the produce business has been devel¬ 
oped, that of making the purchases by travelling 
buyers. These are now a recognized class, as dis¬ 
tinct, if not as numerous, as the well known 
Drawn and Engraved for the American Agriculturist. 
“drummers.” The buyers, while very shrewd 
business men, are affable and companionable, 
and are able to m.akc themselves at home 
with the farmers, with whom they talk about 
crops and their prospects. By going about and 
meeting the farmers at stores, etc., they are able 
to form a fairly correct estimate of the probable 
yield of apples, potatoes, and other produce in 
the district. From data thus gathered, the buyer 
is able to make bargains for produce, to be de¬ 
livered at the cars for a given price, on a future 
date. Often by paying a needy farmer a portion of 
the purchase money in advance, they drive a more 
f.avor.able bargain for (hemselves, while the farmer 
is able to meet his interest or other payment. The 
business has some good features,and in many locali¬ 
ties la favorably regarded by the sellers. The buyers 
knowing this, usually so time their visits as to ap¬ 
pear in the farming neighborhoods not long before 
the period at wiiich interest on mortgages is.payable» 
