The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-08-04
FiRsT-cLAsS GOODS THE REMEDY.
VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS AS TO COOP
- --s- ERATIoN AMONG FARMERS.
Neg Elected Business Opportunities Joint
Stock Fire Insurance Company Advo-
caged.


have failed, it has been said that canning has
beer a disadvantage to the county. He held
that the county had been largely benefited by
canning. Independent of the actual money
benefit the business has required and has
taught farmers self-reliance and business
methods. This has been seen especially among
the young men of the county who have been
trained in canning. Apart from this training
there has been a considerable profit and there
have been no more failures than in any other
business of the same magnitude. One of the
most conspicuous failures was that of the
Northern Hartford Packing Association. 1t
consisted of 80 or 40 packers, using one brand.
The output was large, yet no person was espe-
cially employed to take care of the industry
and make sales. If the business had been run
under Proper supervision it would have shown
better results. tits pre-supposed that we have
advantages as canning centre, and to pre-
serve and increase those advantages we must
maintain and increase the quality OF the goods.
Since 1854, when the season was so disastrous,
more care has been taken in putting up goods.
Every effort should be made to put in fewer
acres of corn and tomatoes and increase the
product of each acre. The quality of the corn
and tomatoes would be increased thereby and
the quality of the goods be improved.
John b. WysOng was inclined to think that
Improvement in the goods is the keynote to
the situation. The poor quality OF canned
goods has tended TO depreciate the price. With
proper management the business could De
made to pay well. Canning in Hartford was
carried on at one time in a loose way. Men
Jumped into the business without dollar of
capital or any knowledge of the business. AS
a consequence many of them failed but there
have been few failures omong those who had
capital and business qualities. Mr.. Wysong
was of the opinion that if thrifty German inn
MIGRANTS could be induced to settle here 1t
would benefit the canning industry.
Edward p. Moores said canning had been of
advantage not only in causing the expenditure
of O. great deal of money here but also in i'm
proving our lands. The section around Avon
dai,, for instance, used to be very poor, but
under the stimulus afforded by canning it is
riosr us well improved as any section of the
county. He did not know OF one man with
capital who had lost money by canning. Abb
erdeen, too, has been built up by the canning
ind ustry.
james F. Kenly said the secret of success in
canning is to put up good goods. Nearly every
man who has succeeded has done SO by making
"a reputation for his goods. Take the MeSsrs.
Baker, In the second district. By extreme
carefulness they have made reputation for
their goods which sells them. Another family
who have succeeded is the Prestons. Their
success is largely due to the good manage
Inent of the broker who sells their goods US
well as the quality of the goods. Their farm
has greatly increased in productiveness, show
ing that canning does not necessarily impov-
erish land. 1t has been found that by continu-
ally raising corn on the same land the yield be-
ed IN something else. Mr.. Kenly reviewed the
early history of the business, when profits
were so large that men who could not get
credit at q country store were supplied with
expensive outfits on credit by manufacturers.
Having no capital or credit to lose they were
not careful about their pack, and the inferior
goods they packed gave Hartford bad repu-
tation. II every packer would put up the very
best goods possible Hartford would not only
hold her reputation but increase it. 1t would
be better il Gamers would confine their farm
ing entirely to canning crops, pursuing a
course of rotation to rest the land. Mr.. kenly
sail il would be good plan for three or four
farmers to carry on canning on the co-opera-
tive plan. The advantages were many. Each
could without difficulty plant and cultivate say
10 acres of tomatoes. One OUTFIT would be all
that is necessary. An experienced man could
be hired to take charge of the factory. The
caIls could be bought cheap by using the COM
bined credit of the concern hauling could be
done expeditiOusly and demurrage saved on
the cans; the goods could be shipped rapidly,
and there would be practically no Interference
with the regular operations of the farm. Land
that is not over-crOpped with tomatoes or sugar
corn will raise large crop every year. II lit
tie or no profit were made on the pack there
would he u large profit in having near mark
ct Tor the produce raised.
james Lee was of the opinion that canning
has been a disadvantage in the Deer Creek
region, where from constant blowing the land
hal washed and is not in as good condition as
it used to be. On fiat, sandy soils there may
have been improvement. The business has
been more successful where railroad facilities
are good. Mr.. Kenlys plan might correct
some OF the evils he naQ observed IN canning.
He mentioned Mr.. Isaac w. Coale's farm us
one that has been improved by canning from
II plan pursued of never farming the same field
in tomatoes twice in succession.
Il. E. Swartz said the failures among Hartford
Gamers were owing to bad management. Too
many of them tried to raise the bulk of the
goods they produced and wore their land out.
4 smaller acreage should be farmed and made
to produce larger crops and crops of better
quality. The quality of goods put up has u
great deal to do with Gamers success.
Arch would he N trat
the industry on good basis and win national
reputatiOn-for Hartford county canned goods.
This would not only benefit Gamers but other
market for farm produce if One-half of our
people were engaged in canning and the other
half in raising supplies for them. There is, of
course, u limit to the number of cans that can
be sold and perhaps Hartford has enough can
ming houses.
success good goods must be put up.
Mr.. kenly's plan Is good one The farmers
could do all the work within themselves and
always raise 400 or 500 bushels of tomatoes
canning section is 100 bushels. by Mr.. Kenly's
plan the entire farm need not be plowed up
James W. Hanna remarked that if farmers
would work as hard as Gamers do they would
make nearly as much money. The Gamer
runs great risks and is at great expense and
ought to make money.
Mr. Kenly said that another advantage of
the cooperative plan would be that ii more
tomatoes were ripe than could be packed they
need not be picked, and this expense would be
saved. A Gamer often takes thousands OF
bushels of tomatoes that spoil on his hands.
John Moores said the canning industry
should be fOstered in every way. 1t has large
ly increased the basis of taxation of our coun-
ty, has brought wealth here and in some cam
Mug localities has kept up the price of land.
Hilly lands should not be worked in canning
crops, as constant blowing causes them to
wash away. The consumption OF canned goods
il increasing and would Increase more rapidly
Issaffl 10
the Gamers interest to put hrst-class goods.
3. NJ. Lee.-Our county has been very much
improved in some portions ,I under the stimulus
grow canning crops to q great extent. The
future success of the industry depends almost
entirely on the executive ability of Gamers
Ii they can produce a good article and have
tact TO manage business, with some capital in
order 10 meet the fluctuations of the trade
they will be successful.
William =. Trmble remarked that the first
step TO maintain and increase success is to
establish a bign standard and adhere to it. He
would favor u cooperative system hut one
differing from Mr.. kenly's. If growers would
understand that they must deliver at the
canning house only hrst-class products the
standard could be more easily keptup. Farm,
should be paid on II sliding scale. When the
farmer wants his money Tor his produce he
should receive u price corresponding to the
price of the canned goods In the market. Ii
canned goods have advanced he should get
proportion of that advance. Ii they have gone
down he should lose correspOndingly. The
price could be liked by the price OF the canned
goods when he wants his money. He did not
think four or five men could be found who
would work together tremendously. A man
Gun not be u successful Gamer and u success
full farmer ut the same time. Canning has
greatly benefited his part of the county
Those who have been successful have given
up general farming almost entirely.
j. ThOs. T.. Hopkins approved Mr.. Kenly's
plan. Ii Gamers were particular about the
quality of goods they put up and the company
us suggested by Mr.. kenly, would operate on
tnat line SUCCESS would follow. As To extend
ing the industry he believed consumption is
not keeping pace with production. Ii Gamers
would reject defective tomatoes when brought
To them the quality OF their goods would DC
improved. The industry has been of great All
vantage to the county Mr.. Hopkins asked
why New York aud New Jersey Tomatoes sell
ut higher prices than darford county goods
and the reply was that they are more carefully
packed. MIR. Hopkins said thai Mr.. s. N
Hyde, oD Long Green, gets the highest prices
for his canned corn, having gained a rcput,I-
ton for il by the extreme care with which nc
packs it. Every ear, MIR. Hopkins said, Is care
fulIy examined, only those in perfect state
The President, Mr. b. C. W. Smith, said the
county had no doubt been greatly benefited
10y the canning industry, but false methods OF
business had been pursued and the industry
dragged down. 1t should be conducted
on u different busis. There should be pains
taxing in the preparation OF goods. Mr.. kenly
has the right idea. lr farmers and Gamers
would WORK more on cooperative plan
they would he more successful: The Urgauiza-
tion might be more enlarged than Mr.. kenly
recommends. The members might be elected
by ballot; an expert might be appointed to
visit every cannery and see that each Gamer
pacas the best goods and any member produc-
ing goods of inferior quality should he drop
ped By such cooperation u high standard
could be maintained and prices be kept more
uniform.
Mr.. Williams remarked that business like