Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-08-30
BOARD BULLETIN FOR AUGUST.
THE FARMERS MARKET.

THE FARMERS MARKET.
AUGUSTA, Aug. Is, 1saS.
We have thought TO call the attention
Of our readers this month tn the best and
most profitable methods Of marketing
the crops OF the farm. Our correspond
ents have responded freely and we be-
lieve their remarks will be found OF
much value. The main points covered
are, first, the encouraging Of home mar
kets, a matter Of much Importance.
This may often be done by preparing
some surplus articles tsstily and Offering
them to village and city people. Many
lucrative market business has almost
been created In this way, people having
their attention called TO articles which
upon trial proved so desirable that a
constant demand was established.
This Is particularly true Of some Of the
finer products OF the farm, like small
fruits, sweet cream. etc. Good work
may also be done along this line by eI-
couraging the developing Of local re-
sources, and calling the attention OF
people To local advantages for different
tourists. Second, comes the idea Of re-
ducing expenses Of shipping, an essen
tial feature This is best done by care
ful selection aud packing, by excluding
all articles Of inferior quality and study
ing convenience of handlers and tastes
of consumers. IL is estimated that the
average cost OF hauling farm crops 10
railroad shipping points exceeds the
average cost OF freight transportation.
This being true, a point OF much value
may be gained BY improving the high
ways and thereby increasing the carry
ing capacity Of our farm teams. The
point OF retailing more Of our crops Is
next considered and opens up an i'm
portant feature in farm economy.
A well established retail market for the
various farm specislties is OF much
value, and properly handled will con-
tribute much toward the profitable mar
keting of our farm crops. The next
point touched Is the controlling OF the
output of the farms. This Is n most
difficult thing 10 accomplish, but much
benefit may come from reserving the
smaller, poorer articles and putting only
the very best upon the market. This
course acts In twofold manner. IL re-
duces the quantity In sight and increases
its attrsctiveness and thereby the de-
msud tor the article. When anything Is
low in the market the temptation Is great
TO put in inferior articles, but IL must be
overcome at sll hazards, and the loss
sustained by the diminished quantity
will be more than Offset by the better
tone of the market. In this connection
a study Of market conditions Is of much
value. IL should be the business OF
every one having anything 10 sell TO
know the prices AZ which the articles are
selling. and in his own interest, and the
interest Of others In the same business,
he should see that these prices are MAIN
taIned The last general idea seems 10
be the selling OF more finished products.
This is u point which should be studied
by all. No matter where We are located
or what our speciality may be, much i'm
proyement will follow any move which
carries our product further from the raw
material. IL improves the condition OF
the farm and the farmer, IL adds TO the
attractiveness of the work. IL carries our
goods nearer the consumer and lessons
cost of handling and shipping.
EXTRACTS FROM THE CROP CIRCULAR
or THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT
OF AGRICULTURE FcR JULY.
Corn: Acreage.-Preliminsry returns
on the acreage Of corn Indicate re-
duction of three per cent from the area
harvested last year. There Is probable
decrease Of 502 zoo acres in Illinois, OF
305 600 acres in Iowa, Of 66l 600 acres IN
Missouri. of ~, coo acres in Kansas, and
Of 4S2 900 acres In Nebraska Many
other states likewise show reduced
acreage, but the majority OF the South
ern States report an increase, ranging
from one per cent In the case OF North
Carolina and Georgia 20 eight per cent
In that OF Texas.
CoNpITioN.-The average condition,
90.5, although 8 points higher than the
condition az the corresponding date OF
last year, is IL points below the July
average for the past II years, and Is one
OF the four lowest averages within that
period. Conditions vary widely among
the principal corn producing states, Iowa
reporting 100, Nebraska and ONO 10,
Kansas and Illinois -, and Missouri -.
WHEAT: Condition.-Thes average con-
dition of spring and winter wheat COM
bined is S9.4 which is 4 higher than at
the corresponding date last year, and b
points higher than on July l, 1895.
Wheat on HANp.-The proportion
of the wheat crop Of 1897 reported as
still In the hands OF the farmers on July
l, 1895, is 1886 per cent. OF the 80, ,OOO,OVo
bushels harvested in the two Dakotas,
less than 10000 bushels remain. A
few important wheat producing states,
however, report from four 10 seven per
cent Of their respective crops as stlii un-
disposed Of. =,
Oars: Condition.-The average eondi-
ton of the ost crop. 92.s, Is 81 points
lower than last month, but II Is 8
points higher than at the corresponding
date last year, 10 points higher than the
July average for the past ten years, and
is, with one exception, the highest since
1889. The decline during the past
month has been general, less favorable
condition than on June lst being report
ed from the following important oat
producing states 10 the extent named
Pennsylvanis, Is points; Ohio, 3; Michi-
gan 5; Indiana, 2; Illinois, q; Wiscon-
sin. 2; Minnesota, B; North Dakota, D;
South Dakota, IL; Iowa, .; Nebraska,
Il; Kansas, 8; Missouri, Is; and Texas,
g.
BARLEY: Condition. The average
condition of barley is s5.1 which Is 6.S
points higher than last month, but Is >
points lower than on July lst last year,
and 8 below the July average Tor the
past ten years. In all the principal par
lev producing states, except California'
the conditions are somewhat less favor
able than on June lst. There Is, how
ever. a marked Improvement In Cali
fornia, which state produces, under
normal conditions, more than any two