The Greeley tribune., 1909-11-18
Elucidatcs ON Inspector

''i"Hue. For lear that !
there may be some misunderstanding
with regard TO this matter of potato
INSPECTION 10 was thought best that
some statement should be made as
to the origin ana object of the move
ment.
AT tn Farmers institute last Jan
nary NOR than a half day was given
to a discussion OF the potato situa-
tion. 1hs TACT was established Our
potatoes were not bringing as much
as they should owing largely to
poor sorting. Later a mass meet
ing of farmers and dealers was call
ed by the Farmers club to discuss
means OF bringing about a change in
the present methods of marketing.
Resolution We're adopted to the
effect thai better grading of potatoes
was not only desirable, but necea-
sary, If we We're to successfully com
pete with other sections.
Also that q system of inspection
CT all potatoes before leaving the dis
trict by some unprejudiced person
appointed by he Farmers club and
paid by the dealers, offered the best
method for making the desired
change
Later at a meeting of club direc-
tors with a committee OF dealers,
the club offered to appoint men to
do the work of inspection. Nothing
more was done until late in October
when il developed that conditions
were much worse than last year and
that we were losing our markets be-
cause stock from competing sections
was better than ours
The dealers then decided to accept
the offer OF the club and C. f. Mason
was appointed inspector by the direc-
tors. All along. the farmers have
contended that the dealers were re-
sponsible for accepting poorly sorted
stock. The dealers replied that,
while admitting this to be true, the.
must buy what was offered them or
lose a customer who would sell his
good stock as we'll as his poor to some
other dealer.
1t was then suggested that the
dealers should agree not to accep
stock that had been refused by an
other dealer unless it was sortet
again. This alone, it was feared
would work an injustice to the grow
er anAa SO it was decided that
would be best to appoint farme
to arbitrate when the quality OF tn
stock was in question.
As the situation now stands tn
dealers have agreed not to accep
potatoes that have been turned dow
! by another on account of poor sort
| ing If the inspector upon eXamiha
tion says they are good enough tn
dealer who had refused them mus
take them. If they are poor tn
grower must sort over again or the
may be sold on special quotation o
CONSIGNED to some commission mouse
For the present all effort Will b
made to have all potatoes sorted S
they will sell as choice. The III
spector has found the sorting wors
than suspected even by the dealer
some samples showing as hlsh z
ten or fifteen pounds of small pota
toes to the sack. More objection
made 10 this small stuff than to rous
potatoes, as they are perfectly worth
less for table use and ii is a ques
tion whether it is not a violation q
the pure food law to sell them a
table stock-at least it is misrel
rescntation.
There is practically no disagree
ment among all grower
and dcalers-as to what constitute
n marketable potato, but that grow
ers have become careless when IN
dealers bought everything that wa
offered.
It is possible that this moNenen
will show the necessity of chansih
our Methods in marketing. A an
rate The community will surely u
benefited if all will work IN ha'
mony 1t is too much to expect 'ii'
it will be perfectly saustector! !.
the start. but no one can question 1t
reasonableness
II very one sold as he would WIS
to buy. there would be no need 10
such movement. Let us all sto
lharuing on the poor quallty OF GU
potatoes and join in boosting th'
movement to uphold our reputatlo
as n good potato district.
f. r. BLISS,
President Farmers Clup.