The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1883-11-16
WHEN AND HOW TO SELL CROPS.


how to sell his crops to the best ad-
vantage is more fortunate than his
fellows who lack such. knowledge.
There can be no definite rule by which
to insure always the best prices, but
there are certain general rules well es-
tablished that may be observed with
profit. The most important of these
is that crop fitted for the market
should be sold at time which will
best suit the seller. That is to say, if
he permits himself to be hampered in
such way as to allow the buyer to
make terms, both as to price and time
of delivery, he is practically without
voice in the matter.
The first requisite in entering the
market with reasonable expectation of
obtaining prices for products that will
afford profit on the labor of producing
them is, that they be of good quality
and deliverable in good order. A
farmer who has a crop of wheat
threshed soon after harvest, we'll
cleaned and stored in bins, is able to
exert some influence in fixing the price
If he has desirable crop there is in it
something to tempt the buyer, an in
ducement to reach the highest figure
Now, if added to this there is safe con-
fidence in the integrity of the farmer
his profits in sales are still further aug
mented. What is regarded as integ-
rity in this case is that high character
of the farmer which inspires confidence
that the crop shall be what it appears
to be, clean at the top, in the middle
and at the bottom, that the bins as
they show give true ideas of condition
and quality.
1t is true that careful observance
of these requirements will not always
secure the prices necessary to bring
profit, but it will secure the best prices
that are paid at that time.
Then comes the question about de-
lay, about holding products for bet
ter prices. Ofthis. personal judgment
must be the sole guide. Many a
farmer, not satisfied with current rates
for his products, holds without def
mite ideas about chances; without IN
forming himself what influences are ex-
erted or may be exerted, to advance
or depress prices, simply waiting, Mi
cawber-like, for something to turn up.
There is no wisdom in this course.
The farmer who has no understanding
about the markets except as prices
are quoted to him, will usually do the
best when he sells at a price that
affords profit, because he does not
know when to wait. He has no rea-
son to justify holding, although such
reasons may exist.
After all it is not a bad rule for
any farmer to sell his products when
ever the prices afford satisfactory
profit. When the markets are steady,
with general tendencies upward, and
he has full understanding of the stu
alton, he may wait without incurring
risks, that is to say, he may await his
convenience for the delivery-take his
own time when it will best fit into the
general work. But when prices fuc-
tuate materially, he will do better to
''catch on" as the street phrase runs,
when the price has suitable margin of
profit. That for him IS the time, while
failure to use it will be very likely toI
put his products at the bottom.
The influences which govern the
markets differ very greatly from those
Of a few years ago. Now all the prin-
,ipal products of the farm may be de-
ivered in large cities from an extent
Of country vastly beyond that which
orty years ago was the restricted
source of supply. Wheat is delivered
rom Chicago, St. Louis or Milwaukee
Is quickly as few years ago it could
De delivered from counties adjacent to
he cities which are the ultimate mark
It's, and the same is true of all other
arm products, including cattle, sheep
md swine. In effect the field is mul-
iplied thousandfold, and therefore
competition multiplied a thousandfold.
There is so much less chance. for in
lividual advantage. On the other
land the means of information are so |
Il