, 1868-08-28
Selling Produce.

Vi course this is the most important thing
in farming operations we raise our grain to
sell it Much depends upon the lucky hit
in this respect-for it must be luck as much
as any thing else. Were it Hot sO-were it
known what the prices would be, those know.
ing 1t would reap the advantage, and specu-
lators would not fail, farmers would not fail.
But the very fact that speculatOrs fail-iu
half the cases as they do-shoW that tBe.
prices are not known 10 advance. And -
tnere are many-may We not say the major>
i.y who pretend to know-for that is the
way We must construe their meaning; they
hold on, seeing some "good reason for
higher prices. Do they know better than
the spectators, who are at the source of 10.
formation, and who are among the most in-
telligent menY We here see the fallacy of
holding on for higher prices 1t would be
the same thing as buying up produce and
keeping it for speculation, for this is what
we are doing with our own; we are specu-
lating with our own grain, our own pork,
our butter, and cheese by keeping it.
No one can know the coming price The
thing has been tried so thoroughly that peo-
pie ought to be convinced, and act accord
ingly. But they act as though they we're
infatuated, which they are, to q certain ex>
tent. They make lottery of their grain
run risks; and they generally fail in the end.
We say generally-now and then there is a
hit; not but that there is ofteuer the same
price realized. But suppose there is; is
there not loss BY shrinkage; by the depre-
datious Of rats and vermin, and loss Of inter
estf And are there not often sleepless
nights and restless days9 This uncertainty
is something, and the wise man will avoid it,
especially as there is no loss by it-uo loss
generally.
This thing has been thoroughly discussed
as well as aired in the papers. 1t is the
common talk, and it influences us more than
anything connected with the farm, as we
have said. Well, what is the result? 1t
that most farmers who can afford it will
" hold on to their grain" This is one re;
suit; another is, the most experienced and
intelligent sell as soon as their produce is
ready for market. They have adopted this
as rule, not as a mere matter of guessing,
but from past experience. They see it is
more profitable, In the long run. We could
mention the names of many of this kind, and
they have all been successful Sometimes they
sold for less than their neighbOrs who held
on; but as often sold for as much. aud some
times more. Thus, in the price, on the whole,
they lost nothing; while their gain other.
wise, as we have said, is considerable-al.
ways considerable; this never fails The in
terest, loss of grain by rats and mice, ETC., is
aIWays saved and the risk of Ioss hu 6ra
theft, ETC., is avoided. There is, therefore,
dtucays gain here, and that gain is consd>
erable-Gt'cGys considerable. Let us then
save this considerable" aud make sure of
our crop, as intelligent men do Turn at
once into cash, and have no more trouble.
You will lose now and then, but with the
consciousness that on the whole (if you per-
sist) you will be the gamer, and that consid>
erably. This should quiet any one, as spec
ulatiOu or keeping produce on hand will not
The "speculatOr >" has the anxiety, and the
loss also. Farmers should not be specula-
tors-(0r journal Of A0ric,,Ltrre