Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-06-06

cient marketing, the acreage Of truck
crops in that State would gradually
become adjusted to the new condi-
tons, and the amount the Texas
grower would receive would be just
equal TO the cost Of production, in
Guiding interest on the investment,
and wages for labor. But ON account
of the efficiency of the system of
distribution of the Texas produce,
other States would be driven out of
the business because Texts could sell
more cheaply. II we form similar
organizations for all producing Gen.
tiers, then what has been said of
Texas would apply to the whole
country.
General decrease in the cost of
marketing would, first benefit the
farmer by increasing his profit. This
would stimulate increased produc-
ton, which in turn would result in
falling prices; so that ultimately the
consumer would get the full benefit
of the saving effected in marketing
Is there any way, then, by which
the farmer could get part Of this
benefit Apparently there is only
one way to do this, and that may not
be practicable-probably is not. For
a simple illustration, let us take
single crop; and for this purpose we
may use potatoes as they are widely
grown. AT present we are growing
1868, 900 acres of this crop. II all
unnecessary expenses and profit
could be eliminated in the marketing
of potatoes, and if the acreage re-
mains exactly as il is now, there
would be no change in the price of
potatoes to the consumer and the
grower would get the full benefit of
the saving. But this increase in pro-
fits of the producer would lead to
greatly increased production, and u
resulting drop in prices. The price
we go below the cost of production
and thus drive out large number Of
growers. After that, prices would
fluctuate to about the normal-that
is, the cost Of production, and the
consumer would reap all the benefit.
Now in order for the farmer to di-
vide with the consumer the benefits
to be obtained by saving in market e
ing, the acreage of this crop must be
so adjusted as to produce the guam
tity of products that consumers will
buy at a price somewhat lower than
they now pay and leave the producer
u price somewhat higher than he now
gets.
think no one will dispute the cor
rectness of this reasoning. II il is
correct. then il is quite clear that in
addition to systematizing marketing
the organizations that are formed FOR
this purpose must also give attention
to production. They must ascertain
the acreage of each crop which the
farmers Of this country may safely
produce. and n system must be or
ganized whereby every farmer when
he is planting will know whether he
is planting more of crop than he
can market at a price that will leave
him a profit. There will, of course
be fluctuation in production even il
the acreage of crop increases only IL
proportion to increase in population
On account of variations in the wea'
Their, overproduction will occur II
some seasons and underproduciioI
in others. and the best we can hop,
for under any conditions is that thu
average production over series o.
years may be so adjusted to the de
mands of our consuming population
that the farmer may make fai
profit on his poeraiions, while thu
consumer will be glad to get his foot
more cheaply than at present.
The task before us is not simple
one. believe the organization of ef
fcient systems Of marketing is en-
tirely practicable and certainly high
ly desirable; but unless we can g
further than that and adjust produc
ton to market demands, the farme
will ultimately get no benefit from III
movement further than the beneli
that will come to the general public
of which the farmer is u part.