The Delta independent., 1910-01-14
The Key to Farm Success.

hiSuildlC tdhCo lioe A1ioeOAy Al
all ages proclaims it. In point of time
it antedates all others. Instituted by
command of the Creator, it's history
parallels the history of the race. 1t
takes first rank, not alone because it
contributes to the physical comfort of
man, but because it is the chief pro-
ducer of wealth. AS reads the history
of agriculture so reads the history of
the republic. Unorganized, the farmer
plods along his weary way. unmindful
of his power guided by master hand.
Can any one foresee the possibilities of
an organized, aggressive agriculture?
Amy day might witness an organiza-
tion headed by Carnegie. John d.
Rockefeller, ]. Pierpont Morgan and
others of their clan, stepping forth
with their millions and controlling the
worlds bread basket.
This day is marvel of wisdom and
discretion, but indiyidualism has faded
into the past Business is swirl of
activity and aggregation. With billion
dollar companies, common carriers with
milage to go around the earth, manu-
featuring and merchants associations,
wholesale and retail, labor unions cover
ing every department of labor, have
been organized. Will the farmer of
the present day like Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep on and on until his condition is no
better than the serf? The time is gone
when the individual farmer, fruit grow
er or gardener alone can stem the tide
against the consolidation of aggrega-
ton and association. Union power
must henceforth be his fortress which
can be secured only through community
of interest and associated effort.
The farmer as a rule lacks nerve.
He is isolated far from the center of
trade, knows little of the laws of sup
ply and demand; crop information that
comes to him is usually transmitted
through adverse interests, government
reports are Greek to him because he
fails to draw from it the cost value OF
a barrel of apples; he knows little OF
the cost of production. | venture to
say there are few men in the orchard
business who know the cost of produc-
ing a box of apples or any other article
of farm production. The manufacturer
can tell to the fracticn of a cent just
what it costs to produce given article.
When agriculturists learn to compute
the cost of producing bushel, barrel
or hundred weight of any article and
produce only such articles as show a
reasonable profit, the news will soon
go around the world and market values
will adjust themselves to the new or
der of things.
Cooperation on firm, strong basis,
and with a sufficient capital will if prop
erly managed be wonder worker for
the betterment of the membership.
But remember it takes nerve and stay
ing qualities to attain success For ex-
ample, the apple growers of the north
west through their association have
sold their fancy apples at 1878 for
fifty pound box, but wrapped up in
that price is quality, attractive packing
and package and a good guaranty.
When the grower gets fifty cents for
his fruit and the consumer has to pay
- for the same, where does the 81. so
go? 1t does not go into one middle
mans hand but into half dozen. We
must cut out some of that. AS grow
ers we must get into closer touch with
the common demand and with the cun-
sumner so as to command attention.
What we most need is volume, quality
and information, packing endorsed with
the proper guaranty. Buyers have
been known to pay from fifty cents to
81 more for such fruit than the current
price. The selling of 10000 boxes of
such fruit is one man. one railroad
fare. one day affair and home again.
Other products of the farm than fruit
The southern strawberry growers sell
their product by the train load at the
loading station. The association at
Greeley handles from 5000 to 10000
cars of Irish potatoes each year. They
are passed over screen with mesh
of one and one-half inches and the same
is done with the cantaloupe and melon
growers at Rocky Ford. They are
graded and nicely packed and their
shipment reaches into thousands of
cars each year. BY cooperation the
individual farmer or fruit grower is
transformed from bushel or central
dealer into one having carload dimen-
sions. Organization and cooperation is
the key that can open the door that
will lead to success in any line of busi-
ness. r. C. Nisbet in Field and Farm.