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

Powell in them,
The Bureau Of Plant Industry has
also given II good deal of attention
to the marketing Of the more perish.
able products, such as the soft fruits
and vegetables, The Bureau Of Ami.
mai Industry has for some years beer
studying number Of important mar.
ket problems, the principal one being
the marketing of milk. The Bureau
of Chemistry has been studying prob.
lens connected with the marketing
Of eggs and poultry, Some of the
work of the Bureau Of Statistics has
also had an important relation to the
marketing of farm products.
The last Congress appropriated the
sum Of $4,000 with which to make
a beginning Of more general study
Of the subject with a view to being
Of more concrete service, both to the
farmer and to the ultimate consumer
AT the present moment plans are be.
ing perfected for the institution OF
this work. These plans will be fully
matured before the first Of July, and
ii is hoped that the new office OF
markets, which is to be established
will be fully organized and ready for
work at that time. Secretary Hous.
ton and Assistant Secretary Gallo
way both consider this work of the
highest Importance, and | believe
am justified in saying that just at the
present time they are giving more
of their time and thought to it thar
to any other branch Of the Depart.
ment work. The officials Of the De-
par,ment are determined that the
work conducted under this new APP
preparation shall be highly practical
and of the greatest possible service
both to farmers and to the consum
ing public.
Hitherto agricultural science has,
in the main, devoted itself to the
problems of production. A great deal
has been accomplished along this
line. Although our virgin soils have
been quite generally exhausted OF
their original fertility and must now
be farmed by more intelligent meth
DDS than were necessary a generation
ago, the yield of crops of all kinds is
gradually increasing. But it is be.
coming more and more apparent that
increased production will not of it.
self meet the needs of either the
farmer or of the city consumer. II
is now generally recognized that the
problems relating to marketing are
quite as important as those relating
to production, if, indeed, they are mol
more so. The present movement fol
cheapening distribution is therefore
timely. | am of opinion that it will
have vastly more effect on the cost
of living than any other movement
relating to agriculture.
There is reason to believe, how,
ever, that the effect will not be en-.
tirely what the friends of this move
ment anticipate. 1t is probable tina
the general consuming public will Sc
cure more advantage from the move
ment than the general body Of farm
ers. Yet it will be Of immense i'm
portance to farmers in certain local
tiles and temporarily to farmers il
all sections Of the country.
There is q general economic Law
which applies TO all industries il
which there is free competition, &C
cording to which the net income iron
the industry is, on the average, jus
sufficient to pay interest on the cap
ital invested and wages to the labo
employed. This law applies onl,
under conditions Of free competition
but since agriculture is an industr.
in which there is free competition
it is worth while to consider for
moment the application Of this la,
to this industry.
II must not be inferred that thi
law operates with equal ef6cienc
at all times. Due to various cause
| there will be fluctuations in the prof
, of any industry, and at times th
! profits may be larger or smaller tina
merely sufficient to pay interest an
! wages. But if at any time they be
, come larger, forces are set TO wor
! to reduce them. On the other hant
il they become smaller than suf6cier
to pay interest and wages, this tend
: to decrease production and thus
bring prices back to what we ma