The farmer and mechanic., 1913-01-14
SYSTEMS OF MARKETING
PRODUCTS OF FARMS
The Demand for Them at Trade CentclS By Pro
ducers to Consumers-Market Places and Ware
houses-.Associae Marketing = Field Agents and
Correspondents - Proposal to Aid Consumers
Intervention of Middlemen

Washington, Jan. 1O.-Systems
OF marketing farm products and the
demand for them at trade centers are
the subjects OF a special report to
Congress by the secretary OF agricul-
ture, recently published. The re-
port was made by special direction Of
Congress In order that Information
might be at hand concerning the
establishment Of division OF markets
IN the department of agriculture. The
secretary specifies various items OF
service that could be performed by
such an office. with recommendations
that they be- adopted. II 1t Is created.
The report covers 391 pages and Is
crowded with Information with re-
gard to the subjects treated.
The report treats Of the movement
of farm products from tho farm to
consumer through q great variety OF
channels. The simplest distribution
IL the direct one OF delivery by farmer
tn consumer, and next after this Is
the delivery by individual farmers or
associations Of farmers to individual
consumers or associations OF con-
sumers. In these direct forms OF dis
tribution. the middleman is elimin-
sted. although OF course intermediate
services are performed either by pro-
ducers or by consumers or by both
parties
Among the varieties of middlemen
concerned in the marketing of farm
products are the travelling hucksters
who go from farm to farm gathering
eggs. butter. poultry, calves and 9TH
er commodities. which they sell to
shippers. jobbers. or retail dealers.
The country merchant Is Often the
J iirst receiver OF such products as
eggs. farm-made butter. poultry.
wool. hides, cotton, and sometimes
grain and hay. In regions where
grain is the staple product. the ten
tency has been To displace the coun-
try merchant by the grain buyer and
the local elevator man.
Farmers commonly sell through
commission merchants and to some
extent directly to wholesale dealers
and also to retail dealers. The
farmer who employs trustworthy
commission merchant who will handle
his products honestly and hOnOrably
will get the current prices for them
within the range OF the commission
merchants business. but the farmer
often finds himself in the hands of q
commission merchant who falsely re-
ports that the products were received
IN damaged condition or that the!
we're OF u grade lower than they were
i'm fact. or be reports receiving prices
iowcr than those actually received bJ
him for the products. Worse thar
III
commission merchant has sold the
products and failed to return the ne
proceeds.
Samples Of transactions in which
only one middleman interyeneS be
tween producer and consumer in
Giude the commission man at larg'
market who receives consignment
OF live stock from farmers and sell
to packers; the factor to whom tn
planter cOnsigns his rice or cottOi
Bnd from whom purchases are mad
by millers; the warehousemen wh'
manage the sale Of q Virginia plan
terS tobacco.
The Intervention Of two men be
tween producer and consumer is
common occurrence. Fruits am
vegetables are often marketed
through the aid of two rniddlemen
the city commission dealer and a re
tail merchant.
More Than Two Intermediates.
series OF three middlemen ma
include first the local buyer OF TN
shipper; second. the cOmmiSsiO
dealer or the wholesale merchant
and third the retail merchant. /
the sale OF fruit by auction, which
common In large cities east Of tn
Mississippi river, the auctioueer is a
additional middleman. He may Sc
Tor a commission dealer. to whom tn
consignment may have been made b
q country buyer; and the purchase
ut such an auction may be a jObbel
who i'm turn sells to retail mer
chant. Five middlemen are thus con
cerEed in such q transaction.
OnioDs raised in Kentucky ar
sometimes bought by local merchar
ana shipped to Louisville: here the