Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-12-07
Holding Crops for q Rise.

Holding Crops for Rise.
It distresses some farmers immensely
to learn sitter they have disposed of their
spare crops that some of them have ad-
vauced in price. They fail to remember
that in some previous year the same ar
ticles declined in price soon after they
parted with them. Neither do they
consider the circumstance that so often
happens that nearly all articles of gem
eral merchandise rise or fall as the price
OF leading farm products does. Many
do not take into consideration the fact
that the money they have received for
their crops has been employed to stop
the payment of interest, or has been in
vested in something that has advanced
in price more than the articles they dis
posed of. Neither do they think of the
losses they might have Sustained and
probably would have, sustained by
shrinkage, damage by unfavorable
weather, and destruction by insects and
small animals. They put no estimate
on the comforts they have enjoyedr by
| the useiof the money they realized by
the sale of their crops, on the pleasure
of having the store bills paid at the time
they were due, and the consciousness
of having paid the hired help what was
their due. They simply render them
selves,very uncomfortable by thinking
that some rich Spectator has made a
little money by buying and holding what
they had to SELL They often render
others exceedingly unhappy by talking
about what they are pleased to call their
loss. Their distress does not abate even
after they have learned that the price
of the articles they sold has dropped
below what it was when they. disposed
of them They go on grumbling and
complaining until they have raised
another crop, which they steadfastly
resolve to hold for q rise. sEsSs II
Holding crops for possible rise for
which there is no apparent prospect is
an operation in the nature pf0speculat-
ing, and the majority of farmers are in
no condition to speculate. They. have
neither the capital nor the knowledge of
business required. Persons who live in
great trade centers' have much better
opportunities for collecting reports of
agricultural productions, and for ascer-
tanning what events will influence the
markets. They are also better situated
in regard to disposing of farm products.
By having them in elevators and ware
houses they can deliver them at,any mo-
ment, or can send them where they are
desired. They are also in a conditions
to form combinations to- affect the mar
ket or to meet any emergency. They
can at any time reaiizeE in cash nearly
the entire value of the articles they have
in store. and stili nave the control of
them. A farmer having but a: small
amount of any article in building on
his place will find it difficult to use it for
security to raise money, if hesfnds it
necessary to make use of it. A banker
or money-loaner would have to satisfy
himself of the existence of the article,
and that it was of the amount and quail
ity described. He would also want as
surance that it would not be moved.
Having satisfied himself on'these points,
he would ordinarily demand a higher
rate of interest than money loans for in
large city. A cautious farmer would
keep an insurance on the articles he is
holding, and this is attended with ex-
pense. He must also keep his corn,
grain, and other articles in secure
place or they will be liable to injury and
loss. Unfortunately the majority of
farmers have no buildings that afford
the security of a warehouse as they are
erected in great shipping points. The
buildings they have are not proof against
fire or vermin, and they are often poor
protection against rain and snow.
Farmers who live near large towns,
and who take their crops to market in
wagons, may often be gamers by hold
ing certain articles till there is an active
demand for them and high prices. Hay
will keep in a NOW or stack with little
liability to injury, and the price Of it
fiuctuates more than that of almost any
crop the farmer raises A farmer who
lives near city and has hay to sell will
do we'll to watch the markets closely,
and be prepared to take advantage of
any sudden scarcity that may exist. If
farmer has a good cellar he may be o
gamer by storing his potatoes in it, if
the price at harvest time is low, as it
often happens that they are scarce and
high in the spring on account of the
quantities lost by freezing during the
winter. Farmers often. have better ia
cilities for keeping potatoes than city
dealers have. What is true of potatoes
is also true of vegetables and winter ap-
Piles. Farmers who have no pressing
need of money, and who have good IA
cilities for storage, are free to exercise
their judgment in regard to the time to
sell their grain. If, however, farmer
has outstanding obligations, he has no
moral right to put off the payment of
just debts in order to take advantage of
q possible rise in the market. Farmers
often promise to settle with their farm
help and to pay their debts to- store
keepers and mechanics after harvest.
Their creditors expect their pay as soon
as the crops are gathered and are ready
for the market, but the farmer often
CONSTITUTES his promise to mean any time
in the future that prices meet his views.
If farmer is obliged to do business on
credit he should do his best to. keep his
credit good. He should not allow latter
harvest" to mean any time between cut
ting one crop Of grain and sowing an
other. Chicago Times.