St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-09-14
HELPING THE TOWN
HINTS AS TO MAKING THE HOME
MARKET BETTER.
HANDLING OF FARM PRODUCE
HeW Merchants and Farmers Can Co
Operate to Their Mutual Advan-
taae in a Business Way.


Many agricultural towns could be
vastly improved by affording farmers
better markets for the produce that
they have to dispose of. In the ra-
dius of every country village there
Ia sufficient butter and eggs and other
products to be marketed, the hand
ling of which would make a profitable
business.
The custom that has prevailed for
many years of storekeepers indiscrim-
inately handling produce does not ap-
pear to be to the best interests of
towns or it may be said, to the mer-
chants or the farmers. In the first
place the average storekeeper has
no facilities for the proper handling
Of perishable products. He may not
receive sufficient to enable him to dis
pose of the product to the greatest
advantage. Therefore instead of max
ing any profit upon what he handles,
many times he is the loser and looks
for his compensation in the trade that
may be given him by the farmers who
bring in the produce.
It is important to town whether
it is reputed to be a good produce
market or otherwise. Where the
farmer can receive cent or two
more for his butter and eggs he is
likely to turn his attention. In some
towns there are regular buyers Of
hIY%
such as to be unsatisfactory and re-
suit in loss of trade to the place.
Merchants generally exchange goods
for whatever produce may be brought
to them. In many places they will
not pay cash, and it has been known
where cash has been paid that it i'm
mediately found its way to some other
town where goods was purchased.
Each town that has any consider
able patronage from the farming com
munity surrounding it, should have
a small cold storage plant. One plan
that has been found practicable in
many towns is the organization of g
produce company in which merchants
Of the town as well as the farmers
are stockholders. These concerns pro
vide every facility for the proper
packing and storage of eggs and but
ter and other perishable produce, anc
sometimes include a butter removal
ing plant. Where such companies arr
operated the merchants refuse tt
handle produce, referring all who have
such to sell to the produce company
The company pays the highest mar
ket price for what 1t buys. Instead
OF paying cash, due bills are issue'
which are accepted the same as casl
at all the stores in town. Each weel
the merchants who receive these du'
bills in exchange for goods have then
cashed at the Office of the produc
company.
BY paying from cent to two cent
a dozen more for eggs or per poun
for butter these produce companie
have been wonderful factors in bring
ing trade to the place. Not alone d
they benefit the town by bringing aG
ditiona1 patronage to the merchants
but the business can be highly prof
able If managed rightly. 1t require
but little capital to operate such a
establishment 1t is well when organ
ization is taken up to limit tn
amount of stock that each shareholde
receives to one or two shares of
par value of $50 or 500. An effol
should be made to have as many me
chants as possible shareholders. Ais
to secure as many shareholders anon
the farmers as can be had. 1t shout
be understood that instead of payin
cash, farmers pay for their share
of stock in produce at prevailing ma
ket prices. With all the merchant
in the town interested in the su
cess of the company, and the farmer
throughout the country also shar
holders and participants in profits thu
may be made, it will be soon foun
J that the produce company will
handling all the produce business tn;
} originates in the community.
In many localities where this pla
has been put in operation the farmel
have discovered that they could r
ceive better prices for their BUTT
and cream and eggs than under II
old system. Being associated in
way with the business interests of Il
place they become more interested
all affairs of the town and are mo
inclined to work in harmony with Il
merchants towards anything that hi
the improvement of the home TOW
: In view. One Of the desirable thini
about this plan is its tendency
lessen the practice of residents
rural communities trading with ma
order houses and department stor
in the large cities. Another adm
able feature is the adding of
additional labor-saving industry
the town and the keeping of the ear
ings of the people in circulation