Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-09-17
Holainr Orops fOr HIEher Prlcrr.


THERE has been much discussion and
probably viii be as much moro on the
advisability of farmers holding crops for
higher prices AS IL seems 10 us, this il
one of the questions concerning which
no positive, invariable rule can be laid
down. Circumstances may make it adj.
visable 20 hold one year and TO sell
promptly the next. Those who held their
last years crop of wheat until within q
few weeks made money by so doing, but
to use this as an argument for so doing in
all years would be very unwise. The rise
in the price of grain was mainly from
causes which could not have been pre-
dicted. Had there been favorable wealth.
er throughout Europe and this country
instead of destructive floods; had grass
hoppers, chinch-bugs and other Insect
pests not made their appearance, prices
for wheat might have remained as low as
they were last year.
Our own view is that taking one year
with another, it is better for farmer who
is poor and in need of money to sell his
products promptly. The holder runs
risk. Prices may not rise; loss by fire,
thieves, rats, shrinkage, rain, ETC., may
come. If the farmer does not need mon
ey for the payment of debts or for inn
provements really essential 10 his best sue
cess or the comfort Of himself OF family,
he may do as he sees fit. If farmer has
] 900 bushels of wheat and would eX-
pect to place at interest the money OBJ
tanned for 1t if sold, he is fully justified in
holding his crop if he thinks the proba-
bility is that prices will advance so us to
give him good profit. If, on the other
hand, he would use the money in paying
debt on which he is paying 10 per cent
interest there ought to he almost Ger.
tainty of a rise to make it wise for him to
hold the crop. Aside from the question
of interest it is good rule for man To
pay his debts as soon as possible.
Too much stress Is sometimes put on
the price being above the cost of produc
tion as the determining question as tC
whether a farmer should sell his crop. II
is very important that farmer should
make profit, but more important Q1es
ton, in coming to decision, than whether
the price will give profit, is the question
whether there is a probability that d
higher price can be secured. If there is q
certainty that higher price can soon bt
obtained, il is wise to hold, even if good
profit could be had by selling at once Il
it seems certain than prices will not adj
vance, il is better to sell at loss than tC
hold and meet a greater loss. Because 9
bushel of wheat has cost only dollar i:
no conclusive reason for selling at dol
lar and quarter, If the farmer is sure he
can obtain dollar and half within 9
month. Because it cost dollar is not @
conclusive reason why he should sell it al
ninety cents, if there be good reason tc
believe no higher prices can be obtained
for long time to come. That a fair profi
can be made is good reason for selling
although not a conclusive one, and, as the
| future is very uncertain, prudent farmer
who has need of money will generally sell
as soon as he can market his products il
the price is fair one, and he will be wise
in so doing Western Rural.