The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-04-02
Have You Sold Your This is

Have You Sold Ycur Grain This is 4
very important question among farmers
Toe many of them hold on and on, to their
produce, and their grain especially, till,
between shrinkage and loss of weight by
drying UP. and from the pilfering of vermin,
their loss is full - per cent. And the price
too, of grain is often higher soon after har-
vest than it is at any other period of the
year. Take the average of years, and the
price of all kinds of produce is as high
it is at any other time; and every farmer
knows that his crops. of all kinds, begin to
waste from the very day they are secured
add to this unavoidable loss the danger
they are always exposed to from fire, and
the loss of interest on the money which is
lying unproductive, that is represented by
his crops, all the time his produce is held
from the market, and the argument in
favor Of early sales is increased two-fold.
Turn your crops into money as soon as
they are fit for the market, and invest the
proceeds judiciously in paying off outstand-
ing debts, if you are so unfortunate as to
have contracted any, or in your business,
in such a manner as to present fair pros
pect of bringing profitable returns in future
years.
A farmers safest bank and most proiita-
BILE stocks are highly cultivate of soil. ard
improved breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs
Good stock requires constant attention. but
will eat no more food than inferior qualities
of animals, and will bring three times as
much money. and be ready for market
weeks or months earlier than the latter
kinds.
But this is a depression from the object
of this article which was to point out the
bad policy and improviaence of farmers, in
holding on to their crops. The warm
weather is fast approaching when all grain
will lose in weight. Wheat may be
better price, but the loss from Keeping
to say nothing of the risks it is always sub
iect to-will in all probability counterbal-
ance any increase in price, between now
and harvest. The loss to corn from shrink
age in tho warm weather, and waste by
mice. rats, and other vermin, is always
very heavy if it remains unshellcd in the
crib: and if shelled and placed in gamers
it will be almost impossible to keep it from
heating, and consequently spelling to
greater or less degree. Hay and potatoes
are subject to the same causes of detelior-
alton in value: and thus we find that every
argument is in favor of selling everything
that the farmer raises for sale, as soon as it
is ready for market; but if he has unfer-
tunately held his produce. let him lose no
time in disposing of his surplus, and after
paying his debts, if he has a balance to
invest, the most profitable investment he
can make would be in Devon or Short
Horn Bull. a Cotswold or Southdown Buck,
or an Essex or Chester White Pig. Then,
any or all of these, if managed with proper
care, would bring him much larger returns
than he will ever receive from an advance
in produce, which he may have vainly wait
ed for: and perhaps borrow money at -
to 90 per cent on so day notes to keep his
business moving. The very worst economy
a farmer can be guilty of, is to hold his
produce for high markets, while his bust
ness is cramped for the want of capital
thus locked up. and seek relief by negotia-
ting his paper. Sell your crops Immediately,
if you have not done so, is our advice to
every farmer in Cecil county.