The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1901-08-21
The Disposal of Farm Prod nee.

II is a common saying among some
producers of merchantable articles,
that to sell well Is the principal part
of the business. The salesman is the
chief officer of the manufacturer, and
the personal advertisement as 1t may
be called of a producer, is the agent
who sells the products. Why should
not farmer follow the lead of other
producers, the thousand and one maxi
ers of many articles of domestic use,
who all keep agents on the road to
peddle their products? This part Of
the business has heretofore given pro-
fitable employment to many thousands
of active men. who of course, have
really been paid by the purchasers
in the prices they have given for the
products purchased by them. Indeed,
to change the method of distribution
of products is alleged to be the moving
principle of the common modern as
sociatlons called trusts. which are said
to be formed in the interest Of the
consumers or purchasers to lessen
cost of sales. II may be so, but facts
tend to show that these great corpo-
rations formed, and still forming, are
expected to pay big dividends on the
inflated stock, and, as a rule, in this
world the parties on one side of a
business transaction are not generally
fretting themselves very much about
the advantages gained by the pur-
chasers of their goods.
Why should not the farmer fall into
line with these modern improvements
in trade. and reduce costs in the way
Of the disposition Of his produce? He
may follow the lead of his bigger COM
petitors and say. I'VE intend TO dis
pose of our produce directly TO the
purchasers, and so give them con-
siderable advantage in price gained by
the discardng of useless distributing
agents, and so go directly to them and
sell what we have to dispose Of"
There is no difficulty about it, for like
that noted person Barkis. the other
party Is willing. Producer and con-
sumer then come into actual contact,
and so business is done at the least
cost and most profit to both parties.
Some forssighted communities offer
encouragement to the farmers TO do
business in this way by providing con-
veniences and facilities for direct trade
between the farmers and the towns
people. When residing some years
ago a few miles from New York. |
found il very convenient to send a
wagon load OF sweet corn. melons. Gu
cumbers. and all sorts of vegetables
and dispose Of the stun TO any one
who would purchase, The purchasers
were chiefly the small storekeepers
who sold out the produce the next day
to the neighboring residents.
When living too far from that city
in PENNSYLVANIA, and adjoining large
town, was the first To start direct
trade with the townspeople. and | did
IL in this way; Having large sur
plus of Strawberries above my own ne
cessities, got a convenient hand truck
! made, and loaded II up with boxes Of
strawberri:s, Just picked in the garden,
and sent q boy TO the village to try to
sell them, with instructions If no one
would buy them to give them away to
any family who might be likely to use
them, stating that II they wanted any
more they would be supplied. Very
soon the boy came back with the
empty truck and boxes, and said he
could sell twice as many more. These
more were gathered and sold, and in
this way. the ice being broken, the
trade increased until every thing
had to spare was disposed of, and out
of it grew house-to-house trade in
cream, milk, buster, and indeed every
thing that could be made that was
good. The next year much larger pre-
parations We're made. and the business
coed. The next year much larger prep
arations were made, and the business
increased until some neighbors were
induced TO join in, and so the custom
became quite common. With the pres
ent conveniences as to the telephone,
how much may such enterprises be ex-
tended.-H. s., In the Country Gentle
man.