The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-09-28
r-HTr- nUsINEss ENn oF TAR.rINe;.


The Farm and Fireside some excellent
ideas relating to the profitable dispos-
ing of the farm crops after they are
produced.
a big crop, he says, is not necessar-
lily a profitable one. The individual
farmer may put forth his best effort
20 get large yields per acre, and may
succeed satisfactorily, but net profits
depend also upon the prices obtained.
This year prices are ruling low, and in
some cases there is no apparent market
at any price for some kinds OF pro-
duce, while other kinds command very
low figures. 1t never pays to become
discouraged. and it is in such years as
this that one needs to display the most
energy and use the most Judgment in
ridsposiTiz OF MS farm products. Years
of experience in disposing Of crops In
clines me to mention some mistakes
that we are apt TO make when the
market is duh and prices are low.
COST OF PRODUCTION.
The question whether one can afford
or cannot afford 10 grow d crop at the
ruling price should have no weight in
deciding whether a certain price should
be accepted. 1t often does have weight,
and leads TO further loss. Figures
that prove that potatoes cannot be
grown for twenty cents a bushel in
the Ohio valley, or that wheat cannot
be raised for fifty cents bushel, or
that a good draft-horse cannot be put
upon the market for $40, are worth
nothing in determining whether we
should accept such prices or hold for
an advance. When the supply exceeds
the demand, cost of production eXerts
no appreciable influence upon the price
OF the goods on hand. The old idea
that it does must be discarded, if one
would have his judgment worth any
fitinE to him as a guide. The goods
have been produced, and the only
point TO be considered is The time and
way in which they may be converted
into the greatest amount Of cash.
SHIPPING TO CITY MARKETS.
We near much about farmers getting
close to consumers, and the advice
that they should is all right in gen
erG1 way; but my observation is that
many farmers ship only when they
csnnot sell at good prices at home. and
these are the very times when they
should not ship. 1t takes some men
a long time to learn that the occa-
sional shipper has no show in a glut-
red city market. When markets are
bare and prices high. everp shipper
rney receive good attention from com
mission merchants, but in glutted
market these merchants have all they
patrons from loss. While farmers may
complain at the seeming injustice, it is
considered only business to give
first attention to regular pat
rons; and the outsider who forwards a.
few hundred of dollars worth OF stuff
.. year must accept neglect when
market is overrun with shipments.
The fact that local buyers do not want
ones products at what he may regard
a living price is usually evidence that
sales are slow, and should be warn
ing not to ship. One may more safely
snip for himself when local dealers
are eager TO buy.
MARKET QUOTATIONS..
1t is the custom of commission mer-
chants to send price currents 10 the
addresses OF everyone who might ship
stuff to them. The quotations prove
misleading To many farmers. A few
facts should be kept in mind: First,
there is sharp competition between the
verious commission houses for ship
pers' patronage, and there is conse-
quena temptation to represent that the
marker is in good condition, and that
the firm making quotations is getting
top prices. Second, it is considered
legitimate to base quotations for the
best on any chance limited sale Of extra
fine goods-such as only a most favor
ed locality could supply. The farmers
idea that his stuff is first-class amounts
to no1ining when it is placed side by
side with something extra fine. Not
enc farmer in twenty, nor one com
anunity in twenty. furnishes really
s'fancy'' products of any kind. Third,
regular shippers do not depend eX-
clusively upon these printed price cur
rents. but are advised by wire when
the market is becoming glutted, and
ssa5s hit 7ar Sinn3l
shipper has no guide but a printed
market report that comes by mail, and
nav be several days old before his
goods can reach the market. These
F,hings are often the cause of disap-
r,ointn.ent to the farmer who does a
limited business.
SELLING DIRECT.
certainly am not advocating the
cause of the local dealer. The farmer
needs all the money he can get for his
7.roducts. But it is true that a year
Of overpzoduction is q bad time to be-
gin shipping for ones self. Il is
equally poor policy TO load stuff Tor
civ market Just because home prices
ava low. such consignments too often
bring absolutely no returns for the
,arodIce sent The only satisfactory
nlsn for the farmer who proposes TO
send two or three carloads Of stuff TO
q eitv market is to bill the cars 70
himself. go TO the city, and then sell TO
The merchants instead of cons1gnlns.
This course is advisable nine times out
of ten. / am not attacking commits
sion merchants but some observation
Of CITY markets, made while disposing
Of nv crops. fully convinces me that
she occasional shipper should be upon
che ground himself when his produce
reaches the market, and this is especl-
sllv true when the market is dull. he
reed not expect the aENennon 10 ms
r,onsisalnents that is given those OF
regular patrons Of q iirnl. Old patrons
get the first attention.
HOLDING FOR BETTER PRICES.
storage eff crops entails more ex-
19ense than many estimate. Wheat may
he held at less expense than most other
Tas-ra products The shrinkage of
wheat. if fairly dry when threshed,
does not exceed two or three per cent.
end the only considerable items are
Fandlinr. loss from vermin. insurance
and Interest Corn fit for the crib
loses heavily by the next May. No
exact figures can be given, the results
,,f tests varying much. A less OF 10
ner cent. should be expected. Potatoes
icse heavily, and the risk in storing is
FAR greater than in the case of grain
ar hay. In years OF plenty immediate
sales from the field Of fruits. vegetables
and hay at very low figures usually
afford more net profit than results from
storing.
THE FARMERS PROFESSION.
The time has come when the word pro-