The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1907-12-01
THE "EASY" FARMER.

," HE farmers of the Pacific Northwest have
i demonstrated in most instances that they
are an intelligent and business-like class of
men. Aided by the climate and the fertility of the
soil, they have been able to conduct their farms
basis which has made many of them wealthy
and given them the merited reputation of the
most prosperous farmers in the world. And yet,
in spite of all this, it seems that there is much
remaining for many of them to learn before they
be termed astute business men.
During recent Investigations which The Ranch
has made of fraudulent concerns, the results OF
which have been published and are now being pub
lished, the editor has been astonished at the ia
cty with which many supposedly keen and alert
farmers have fallen victims to the INSCRIPTIONS
methods of certain commission men and dealers
One thing above all else manifest throughout
all of these disclosures, and that that many
farmers evidence an almost incredible careless
ness when it comes to marketing their produce
These same farmers scientific in the growing
of their fruits and the raising of their live stock
and poultry and yet after this is all accomplished
in the most careful and painstaking way possible
and the last and one of the most important steps
of all-that of marketing and realizing the
suits of their and labor-is at hand their
science and their vigilance seem to relax and
a haphazard unbusnesslike way that is really as
tonishing.
The greatest carelessness is apparent in the Sc
lection of agents to whom the fruit and other pro-
duce is consigned for sale. There is no excuse for
this. There plenty of reliable firms who can
be determined upon by little Investigation.
There is no necessity for taking any chances
when little research will make the grower GER
tain of the integrity of the agent or buyer and as
him of square DEAL And yet the farmers
insist On taking chances. All that is required, it
seems on the part of the dealer or commission
man who is inclined to be INSCRIPTIONS is to send
out little enticing correspondence, quoting ridic
ulously high prices various kinds of produce
and he receives plenty of consignments. The
farmer has guarantee that he will get these
prices, and when he receives his returns, they
usually only about half of what the reputable deal
would have given instead of being from one to
two hundred per cent. more as the letters of So
licitation have stated.
And in many cases, even after the fraudulency
and Implicitly of these concerns have been ex-
posed it is hard matter to induce the farmer to
take the legal steps which he should take to Sc
retributon and protect himself. Many farm
ers are too Indifferent, and overlook chance of
this sort to make example of someone a
warning of what other dishonest brokers and deal
ers likely to suffer for pursuing the
methods
The Ranch is willing to do all that Is possible to
protect it's readers, but on the other hand, it is
anxious to it's readers to protect themselves.
In some cases, if the farmer is not on the alert
in the first place, discovery of his mistakes will
come too late to secure redress, whereas, if he
takes ordinary precautions, he is not half like
ly to become involved in such difficulties.
Let us repeat again to every reader of this pa
per that it is important to learn the science of
marketing as the science of growing. Do not
leave all these things to your agent, but learn