The St. Louis Republic., 1903-05-02
FARMER AND COMMISSION MAN.

On this subject. of much Importance
to many farmers. Y. NJ Couch writes
the following in the Ohio Farmer:
The matter of sending away the
products OF the farm and placing them
In the hands of dealers to be sold is
one that should be carefully considered.
We hear reports frequently of unfair
treatment at the hands of those tJ
whom the crops have been consigned.
| The dealers always have nice. smoA>b
story TO tell in the shape of an eXcti9.
which. as Il rule. gives very little salts
faction to the farmer. But the dealers
are by no means always to blame. The
shippers often invite the evils of which
they afterwards complain. \ great many
farmers and others stand ready TO ship
their produce 10 the house Offering the
best inducement in the way of high
prices and quick returns. without giving
the matter of reliability even thought.
Ii is n well known fact that in every
large city there are commission men
who do an honest business. II is also
well known that there are some who
are not worthy of confidence. They ad-
vertise. as their motto. high prices and
quick returns" but they seldom carry
this out. except for one or two ship
| ments. The prices returned for these
may be little extra. but will after
wards fall below the average and fire.
quently nothing at all will he sent back.
And why a farmer will insist on plac-
ing his produce in the hands of such
men is more than l can understand,
when there are those that have been
long established and have a good repu-
tntlon and financial standing which can
be easily found cut by referring to their
bankers or the commercial agencies.
Another CAUSE of unsatisfactory re-
turns TO shippers is dividing shipments
between two or more houses in the same
| market. OF course. every shipper wishes
TO know which firm can do the hest for
him. but dividing up shipments and
sending them TO this and that one. gives
no fair test at all. from the fact that
the shipment each man receives is so
small that he cannot afford TO pay at
tention to 1t, while much larger lots
from regular shippers await their atten
ton. The small and transient lot may
meet with a good sale to-day. but to-
morrow perhaps it could not be sold at
all. Shipping 10 first one and then an
other is all 4 game of chance. The regu-
lar shipper has the right-of-way. and
why not: ftlS COnSiEnlHeHtS must nave
first attention TO insure the best prices.
His business is large enough 10 be worth
something 10 the house. coming as 1t
does year after year TO the same place.
The small shipper is always at disad
vantage. but he can improve his chances
by sending all he has to ship to one
house each year, and in this way make
his patronage worth al he can to the
one house. Commission men. like others.
must look to their own interest. and
this can be done only by taking care Of
their largest and regular shippers first.
The packing of the goods is another
matter that should be given more at
tention than many shippers devote to
it. have known Of reports from deal
ers of goods arriving in bad condition.
when. upon Investigation. it was found
to be false. and. again, there are cases
when it is true. That goods sometimes
arrive in terrible. condition cannot be
denied. Sometimes the quality is poor.
sometimes the packing is at fault and
to that extent that the goods arrive in
very bad shape. Avoid mixing poor lots
with good ones. and whatever is shipped
put 1t up in the best possible shape,
and II sent to reliable man when the
market is not glutted. the chances are
that the returns will he satisfactory