Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-12-09
agricultural.
caOPs ron NiaETY-NINE.

V0UEO gV1 MAN 64 1"M1M4s
q What 70 plant as a profitable crop for
next year requires good Judgment aud
knowledge Of transactions 10 farm pro-
ducts for this year II is possible for
farmers who keep close watch on the
markets, compare reports Of prices aud
preserve all statistical information to ar
rive &c couclnsion in regard 70 the OPP
erations for next season so far as the
selection Of crops is concerned The
farmer may not be able 70 anticipate the
amount of production Of any kind Of
crop, the acreage, rainfall, ETC., but be
will know more than the one who puts
in his crops blindly, without observing
what has been occurring during the year.
There are many matters Of interest to
farmers which they do not observe, and
yet there is no class that should be more
cAreful in being 1T ell times informed
than farmers. Business men are always
alert. They know the conditions Of all
the markets in the country, the average
prices for the year. the visible supply on
havd from the previous year. the yields
in other countries, and they even care
) fully estimate the quantity Of any srti-
Gle required for the next year. The one
who produces the rops-the farmer
who should be equally as we'll informed,
is negligent in that respect, and does
not improve hisaopportunities. Intelli-
gence is as potent in agriculture as in
mercantile pursuits, the condition OF the
farmer largely depends on his manage
mont Of the farm aud the marketing Of
bis crops.
ovERFRoDUcTIoN.
1t is custom among farmers to al
ways attempt to supply that which was
in demand the previous year, but which
was lacking, and in that respect they
work with more unAnimity than in any
other line IL the, potato crop is short
one year, the area devoted to potatoes
will nearly always be increased the fol-
lowing year, and If there is an overpro-
duction Of any particular crop farmers
will abandoni it for the one that was
short. Such q course on the part Of
farmers appears as wise one to pursue,
but experience shows that 1t is where
one Of the gravest mistaks is made. Ia
the growing Of wheat, which has world
wide markets, the farmer has some ad-
vantages, but in the growing of perish
able crops he must sell quickly or suffer
q loss. The policy to be pursued should
be to grow those crops which are likely
to be short the coming year An old
fruit grower, who nearly always had
something to sell when prices we're high,
gave as his reason for being so fortunate
the following: 81 always plant those
crops that others reduce or leave Of. be-
cause as they lessen the area and yield,
the following crops will be correspond
ingly smaller His rule, therefore,
when crop--for instance Strawberries
is abundant and prices low, is to make
Strawberries bis main crop the next year,
because others will leave them out
QUALITY AND MARKETING,
? When. a crop is heavy one year st is
usually much smaller The next year, be-
cause low prices drive farmers to the
growing Of some crop that was scarce,
and as nearly all Of them will usually be
Of the same opinion the result is an over
production. Like a mob, all rush to the
point of success Willingly, but not be-
log organized, or usilg judgement, the
-'s9'r tAiag tsst should be avoided is
just what happens, But there is one
line of action which every farmer can
safely follow IS an individual, and With
ont regard to what other farmers may
do, and that is to grow all products OF
the best quality. shipping to market in
the most attractive form. and gaining,
BY higher prices for speciel excellence,
that which may be lost by an over
stocked market. There is no such thing
% "6xed price" for any kind Of arti-
Giles. simply because there is such thing
Is quality, and no two articles are alike
Buyers will see the best. and will viii
lingly pay an extra price therefor, be-
cause the "best" never reaches perfec-
ton, and is always scarce, hence improve
ment eau be made every year Study
the markets and compare prices for sew
srAl years, and larger profits will be
made.