Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-06-11
Exhibiting and Selling Farm Prod.
ucts.

The idea of holding yearly fairs for
the exhibition and sale OF particular
farm products has long been recognized
as of great importance. Of late years it
has been acted upon in various parts OF
the country for the sale of animals, dairy
products, and occasionally for the sale OF
wool. In England the regular exhibit
ton and sale of products at markets and
fairs for barter and sale have given place,
so far as live stock is concerned, to the
plan of selling by auction, either with or
without reserve price, and this system
of selling at auction sales is gradually ex-
tending to other farm products as well as
stock.
One of the advantages of this plan is
that it places the seller and buyer more
equally on par than perhaps any other;
for, as q rule, the farmer is not so COM
plete Judge Of the commodity sold as is
the buyer. The reason is obvious: the
buyer has but to study the points of ex-
cellence of the finished article, while the
farmer must keep himself posted as to
variety of matters pertaining to the com
modify in its various stages. A case in
point: 1t is we'll known that a butcher is
far more critical judge of what the ami
NAL will be inside than the stock-raiser,
and also is a better judge of the weight
of the animal. These experts, there
fore, have great advantage over
not only those selling, but, also, over
those other butchers who are not so well
posted. When the stock is sold at auction
the expert shave not so great an advantage,
for the more indifferent judges can then
take advantage of the better ones through
the bidding. 1t will pay them to ad-
vance little after the experts have ceased
to bid.
Why could not these sale-days be more
generally established? 1t would be very
easy to do SO at the county and district
fair. grounds that are now scattered all
over the country. Take the article of
wool, for instance. The feeces are now
sent to commission houses, where they are
sorted. We have heard of instances where
the superior feeces, as, for instance, those
that will do for combing, are sorted out.
The merchant takes these TO himself at
the price per pound at which the whole
was sold, and pockets very pretty per
centage over and above the legitimate
commissions. Suppose week was fixed
after shearing time tor the wool or their
samples to be exhibited. If properly ad
vertised it would draw buyers from all
sections The wool could be graded by
experts, the parties owning it agreeing to
sell with or without limit of price, and
each would receive value according to the
amount put in. If it were decided to
hold these sales, there is ample room and
suitable buildings on every Playground.
If sold, the money is paid over to the
owners, less the necessary expenses,
which would be comparatively light.
AS with wool, so with many other COM
modities, as cheese, butter, etc. 1t
wants business management and some
time to work up. but, if carefully done
could not fail to be more satisfactory than
the present system; and in this respect
we might easily learn wisdom from our
neighbors over the water.
With stock of all kinds the sale system
would work admirably and come nearer
to true cooperation, by which all parties
would be benefited, than any we know;
and there is no reason why not; with
Farmers Clubs and Oranges established
in every locality in the West it may not
be entirely feasible. 1t could easily be
extended to embrace not only articles
which the farmer had to sell but also
those he wanted to buy, and perhaps
eventually supersede the faulty plan OF
operating by agents and commission men
who proclaim themselves the exclusive
agents of the Clubs or Oranges OF State,
with the object of establishing a monop-
oily and by it filling their own pockets.
The capital for carrying out these auction
sales might be furnished by the farmers
themselves Western Rural.