The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-02-04
Farm Produce Prices.

Farm prices are largely regulated by
the kind of produce that reaches the
markets. The farmer who makes
speciality of growing articles of extra
quality, and who ships at the proper
time, will realize more on one acre
than another farmer who depends up
on bulk or quantity will upon two
acres. There is never time or
season when the markets are not over
stocked; that is, with inferior produce,
but buyers search for something bet
ter and select the best. the consequence
being that in what may be considered
an overstoclled market there is never
too much of that which is choice
Strawberries have sold ut twenty-five
cents per quart when prices were far
below the cost of production of infer
ior kinds. and when there was n de-
mand for all that the market could
supply. yet hundreds of growers could
not realize n profit for the reason that
they could not compete with those who
had the best to offer Even with low
prices for live stock. the remedy is to
use the pure breeds and thus improve
the quality. Capital does not monop-
Ollie superior stock. Any farmer can,
by the use of pure bred sires. gradual
~ increase the value of his focks and
herds if he is willing to be patient and
use skill In selection of the sires and
dams. In all cases where some new
variety of fruit, grain or vegetable has
been introduced the originators, or
those who first began with it, have de
rived profits, for the reason that the
public is always looking for something
better and will pay an extra price for
quality.
Farmers and fruit growers cannot
judge of the condition of a market in
the future or of prices during sue
ceeding season by comparison with the
present year. A large number of far
mers Will discard the crop altogether
the next season if prices are low ut
present. which is just the opposite
practice to the course which should be
pursued, for the reason that when one
farmer drops out the others are enter
tanning the same views. the result be-
ing that the article will be scarce the
next year and prices high. This was
the case few years ago when pota-
toes were very low in price. Hundreds
of farmers became disgusted and
omitted potatoes from their list of
crops the next year They afterwards
witnessed n price that caused them
many regrets that they did not grow
potatoes. One Of the safe rules to fol
low when growing special crops for
market is to plant that which others
are leaving. for the very fact that
farmers are curtalling the production
of any particular crop is alone sufh-
Cient proof that the supply the next
year will be less than the demand. high
prices resulting A great many articles
are left out by farmers that could be
grown on some soils with advantage.
rot because OF their actual value i'm
market but because they can he util-
lied ON the farm Such crops as rape
and cow peas are not as salable as
grain. but they can be proftably used
for producing something that will sell
M a good price in market
The value of a land used for crop
must always be considered i'm The cost
If the farmer has capital Invested in
land he should first enter i'm his ac-
count the interest OH that capital. as
ne probably could secure interest If the
value OF the land should be- invested i'm
some other direction. Every farmer
therefore should aim to grow crops
that will pay him both interest and
profit. and Of his land is very valuable
ne cannot afford to- grow Inferior crops
Those who own valuable farms near
The large cities do not hesitate to pay
for extra labor ana plant foods iu orr
der TO produce the finest quality of
produce. as anything else sold by them
would mean loss The farmer Us just
as much under obligation to- himself
to make his land produce the best as
those located near tine markets Ioca-
ton does not add plant food. skill or
ability To- derive the most from q farm.
~ simply saves time and trausporta.
ton charges to- those who have favor
able positions. The distant farmer
should endenyOr to reduce cost TO mar
ket by producing the best only. as hc
cannot afford 20 ship inferior goods ut
all. Every year the stalls of the mar.
kct and The warehouses of the com.
mission merchants are piled ND with
Inferior produce received from farmers
who. by culuvatng little less ,and
using their manure over 20 smaller
area and dcvOtIuE their labor to- the
production OF something choice could
not only reduce ODE amount of produce
supplied. but also greatly assist fu ru.
cronaInu tho prices for mil orrIn- Of