Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-03-18
STATE HOUSE
The Vital Question Of Mar
keting Must Be Solved
By The Cooperation Of Individ-
uaIs, says Chief c. {. Embree
Health Lectures Before Oranges.
Corporation Files Certiflcate...Hotes
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council Will Be Held at 10 A. NJ.
Wednesday, March 25.

producing, but the vital question of
marketing must be solved, If solved at
all, by the cooperation of individ-
uals," states c. E. Embree, chief of the
bureau of marketing and supplies
connected with the Maine Department
of Agriculture in his annual report
which was filed Tuesday.
Continuing Mr.. Embree says in the
report:
Men in all walks of life are now
very much concerned over what is
| termed The Rural Problem From a
social and economic standpoint this is
perhaps the most vital question of the
hour, one worthy of very careful
| study, but after all possible has been
assimilated from the opinions and
| theories of others it's final solution will
be made by the man upon the farm.
The popular cry of Back to the
| Farm will prove a passing hobby I'M
| less it can be demonstrated that farm
| ing is not only a profitable occupation,
but that the farmer can be surround
ed by the comfort and conveniences of
modern life.
Fertilizer.
One of the most important articles
purchased by the farmer is CONNER
cial fertilizer. 1t is estimated that
the total tonnage of the state amounts
to 10000 tons and this undoubtedly
is a conservative estimate. Estimat- :,
| ing the value at $500 per ton the
| farmers of Maine pay out annually
| S4,6S0,000. This is about one-thlrd OF
the value of the potato crop annually
marketed
while the Maine farmer exercises
great care in preparing the seed bed
and carrying on other farm opera
lions. he purchases his fertilizer as
rule without any knowledge of its ac-
tual growing qualities and CANDLES as
to results. The department believed
that all farm operations should be
conducted with as much certainty as
the nature of the business would per-
nit, and in the case of fertilizer If the
farmer could not make sure of the
Quality of the goods he purchased,
then he would buy the various IN
gradients and practice home mixing.
However If the farmer is member
of an association he can be reasonably
sure that his fertilizer Is made 9ef
ingredients available as apiant food
and that no so called filler enters into
its makeup.
During the last five years the
farmer has been paying too much
money for his fertilizer and the board
of directors of the Farmers Union OF
Maine decided to enter the business OF
supplying the union members with
this Important article. The manager
was instructed TO contract for 2ooo
tons Proposals for bids were sent
out to all reliable companies operating
in Maine, but we We're unable TO get
prices from any one of them and IN
fact two of the companies refused 10
sell to any farmers organizations.
This enabled the manager to contract
with the L. 2. Thomas & Son Com
panv of Philadelphia. The goods OF
this company had been Thoroughly
tested by the manager when connected
with the Long Island Potato Elk
change of Riverhead, n. Z, and IN
every case proved highly satisfactory
Bv vote of the board it was decided TO
retain profit of $500 per ton, sl.oo
of which was to go to the Farmers
Union of Maine and 500 to the local
exchanges, it being understood that IL
this money was not required to meet
expenses it should be divided among
the various organizations.
THE most of the exchanges, how
ever. did not retain the profit of $1.0o
and the stockholders secured their
goods at only s1.00 advance over cost.
The Aroostook County Potato As
sociation of Presque Isle was the first
- furnishing
fertilizer and the prices secured by
this association enabled them 10 make
a cut of $500 per ton under the cash
price charged by the regular COM
panies. This cut was met py all the
manufacturers doing business In the
county, resulting in saving OF $lzo,-
900 to the farmers of AroostooK. his
was during the season of 1917. IN
1918 the Farmers Union OF Maine was
operating in almost every proouclns
center in the State and this caused tne
companies to cut prices covering the
whole state, and as it was estimated
that 100000 tons is used in the state
this saved the farmers $26O,00o.
while the operations of the farm
ers' organizations have very material
ly reduced the price of fertilizer, oW-
ing to the small contract made the
lowest price has not yet been secured
but in time the saving along the ilnes
of fertilizer will many times pay an
the expenses of organizing. WINE
the exact figures are not available at
this time it is estimated that out OF
the 100000 tons of fertilizer consumed
in the state at least 100000 tons have
been and are now being bought on
what is termed December payment.
The farmers who buy in this way have
been paying an enormous interest for
the use of the money. For example,
the price of a 4-6-10 on December
payment has in the past five years
been $3.50. Any time during the nVe
wears had the farmers been organized
this grade of fertilizer could have been
purchased for $3.50, leaving profit
of $500 to go into the funds of the as
sociation. The difference between
$3.50 and $3.50 is $500. This is $500
for the use Of $3.50 for six months.
For one year the cost would be $120o
and as $3.50 is about one-third OIL
$4,000 the rate of interest is SO per