The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-02-05
TOPICS FOR THE FARM.

Bc H0ncst.-The other day we ad-
dressed ourselves to large dealer in
garden produce, asking him what kind
of q record the men Of whom he pur-
chased supplies had for absolute honesty.
He replied, "There is but one man that
sells produce to Inc whom can perfectly
trust; out Of the seventy-fve to one
hundred different men who sell me
articles with regularity through the
season that there is but this one man of
all of them whose goods do not inspect
with the greatest OF care before shipping
them away. His packages | never open,
but take his word for their contents,
and have never found an error in his
statement"
"Does it pay this man to thus be an
exception to the general ruler" we in.
quired.
"Pay him? guess it does" was the
ready reply. owe can afford to give
him from five to ten per cent. more for
his produce, and then we make more out
of it than any other stuff we handle"
In rejecting upon this mans state
ment we recalled a word spoken by
Milwaukee lady whom we met in August
and of whom we made inquiry concern.
ing the standing of Michigan fruit in
her city.
Said she: al am right sorry about
it, but as you Michigan people gain in
the production of peaches, in just that
proportion do you lose your honesty.
Nearly every package Of peaches which
/ have bought for two years has been
fraud. Could | be certain by purchas-
ing any one brand Of getting exactly
what the package purported to be, that
brand should have my patronage, even
at advanced prices. But unfortunately
have not found the brand as yet that
insures the uniform quality ! want"
1t is very strange that people will
persist in deceit when perfect honesty is
30 direct in its preferment. An honest
package is its own advertisement;
truthful statement concerning good is as
good as poster; and when the producer
places upon the market only that which
will bear the severest test he will not
wait long for buyers. A gentleman
from Grand Traverse told us the other
day that his entire crop of potatoes was
sold in September--although they would
no! be untitled before the middle OF
October--at prices i've per cent. above
the highest market quotations. Why?
Because for some years he sold potatoes
and never has placed upon the market n
tuber without his name, and every
bushel was selected.
There are few men in our own State
that command their own prices upon
apples, simply because their record is
above reproach. Occasionally we find
butter maker who demands and secures
quite a margin above the highest quota
ton in the market because not pound
of inferior butter is furnished to custom
ers. In every city are plenty of people
who will pay well for what they are GER
tain are honest articles, and outside OF
any moral argument il pays the producer
to make a reputation for strictest
honesty, at the same time never over
reaching propriety in naming the price.
Absolute trustworthiness goes beyond
the package. The best kind OF reputa-
ton to secure is indicted by the attitude
of the consumer when he says, bring
me ten pounds of butter and present
your bill, " or 81 want bushel of beans,
ten bushels Of potatoes and a variety of
other vegetables for my winter use;
please deliver them at my house and
name your price"
In all our acquaintance with farmers,
there are very few that come up to this
ideal of reputation, but it is worth seek
ing, and furnishes its own reward.
A young man brought up on the farm
went into the army in 1861, and after
serving through the war, came home
minus his right arm. He questioned
for time what he had better do as
life work, and because of his native
ability, was advised to 90 into profes-
sion, and thus be enabled to employ
himself where he would least feel the
loss of his right arm. After little
careful thought, much to the surprise of
his friends he chose farming, saying
that he believed he could make his head
OF as much use, and mis- his arm as
little, in that vocation as any.
Ten years have elapsed, to-day his
position and prosperity are abundant
proof OF the wisdom Of his choice. His
intellect has served his will better than
his muscle could have done.
The other day, q lad who knew of his
success, thought he would be nice man
to work for, and applied for place, re-
ceiving the following response: "Young
man, we do large business on our place
and have a perfect division of labor. In
the management of the farm we have
hell enough, but there is almost always
rvacancy in the mechanical departments;
# you wish place there. come on"
by guiding other mems muscle and
practical capability, this man has made
II great success in an occupation that
most of Us would have said he was least
adapted to. Head work is very prof
table commodity, even on the FARM