The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-04-13


After the wholesalers had loaded
up at the low price they would ad
vance the price 8 cents a bushel.
and circulate rumors that the market
was firm and prices would be higher,
and stop the farmers from carting,
actually making the price higher in
the city market. Then they would
undload their large holdings at big
profit. Later they would repeat the
performance. Some Of the farmers
got on to this game and profited by
II. There was no one looking out for
the farmers interest who was in touch
with all the shipping points and
knew what was going on and could
advise the growers as to the true con-
dition of the markets.
Ii was to remedy this condition
and others equally bad that some Of
our farmers determined in the spring
Of 1908 to try and form an organiza
ton for selling our produce and buy
ing our supplies. We had had a plan
demonstration Of the advantage Of
cooperation by the wonderful sue
cess Of the caulifiower association.
We called a general meeting at
which committee was appointed to
hold meetings at every shipping point
in our territory and explain what we
hoped to accomplish and the pro-
posed method of operation. In our
plan Of operations we set forth sever
al specific objects as follows:
First, establish conditions whereby
anyone desiring may buy Long Island
produce true to name. The need Of
this is apparent when l tell you that
the Long Island potato, like every 9TH
er extra good article, has to compete
with lot Of counterfeit stuff sold as
the genuine. No doubt there are more
Maine. Michigan and New York State
potatoes sold each year in Greater
New York as Long Island potatoes
than raised on Long Island. OF course,
so many inferior potatoes being sold
for the genuine naturally hurts our
market.
Second, develop our present markets
and find new ones for all our products.
By judicious advertising we were sure
We could increase the demand for
our products.
Third. to ascertain the condition of
growing crops throughout the season
and furnish this information to our
members.
Fourth. to secure pure seed at as
low a price as consistent with the
best quality.
Fifth, to buy and sell or manuiac-
ture all kinds Of supplies.
Sixth. to buy and sell and consign
all kinds Of farm produce and to es-
taolish uniform grades. Better grad
ing would almost always net the grow
er more money.
Seventh, to own or lease and oper-
ate storage warehouses and packing
houses for produce.
Eighth. arrange for the transporta-
tion and handling of all produce in
the best possible manner.
Ninth. eliminate from the list of
our customers those wholesale deal
ers who unjustly dock the shippers on
weight or who make a practice of
turning down cars of produce on
falling market.
Our Long Island potatoes being
special high-grade product of limited
production, by placing the entire crop
In the hands of one selling agent. that
agent would know just the require
ments of the market and could regu-
late the supplies to certain extent.
and prevent the fllmfiam methods by
which the grower was induced or
fooled into selling the greater part Of
his crop at the low spots in the mar
keting season.
The selling agent could keep the
price right up to the top the market
would stand and prevent it from go-
ing too high, for there is such a thing
as getting the price so high as to he
an injury to the grower This state
OF affairs was furnished a year ago
last summer. The price of potatoes
started in at 40 cents bushel and
rapidly went to rs cents. when it
should have stopped at 65 cents.
When the price went to rs cents
many OF our customers turned to 9TH
er sources for their supplies. After
they had nnca laft uo oo,,d No. -