The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-30
BRAINS ON FARM
More Than 200 Delegates At
tend Marketing Conference.
u. 3. Expert in Strong Plea for
Standardized Containers.
MOTLEYPACKA AGES MEAN FRAUD
Seller and Buyer Should Talk
i'm Same Terms.
Charles w. Holman Warns
Against LandlOrdiSm.
MOTLEYPACKAGES MEAN FRAUD

Chicago. Nov. 30.-CharleS J.
Brand, chief OF the bureau of mar
kets, United States department of
agriculture, today told the National
Conference on Marketing and Farm
Credits that Standardization of farm
products as to quality and as to size
and type of package is necessary as
an accurate basis for price quotation.
He said that accuracy of standards
in selling products means smaller
margin between the price paid by
consumers and the price received by
producers. He thought StandardiZa
ton of containers proper subject
for federal legislation under the
weights and measures power of the
constitution.
More than 700 delegates represent
ing thirty-eight states, were in at
tendance at the second days session
TODAY The conference will end
Thursday evening.
Must Have Grades and Standards.
Mr.. Brand speaking today, said:
I'VE can never have much progress
until the buyer and the seller are dis
cussing the commodity in the same
terms, and that means that we must
have grades and standards, not only as
to quality, but as to packages and
containers. In order to get an &C
eurate idea of the diversity which
prevails in this latter regard, Mr.. &. I.
More, of the department of agricul-
ture has made a collection showing
the size and types OF packages and
containers current in the trade L
assure you it is a motley horde, and is
in itself a complete argument for
Standardization.
New York has one set of grape
baskets, Michigan another, and still
other grape territories other kinds.
Some of them look very much like
others, but contain less Such con-
fusion furnishes endless opportunity
for manipulation and even dishonesty.
In the case of strawberry boxes, not
only is there exceedingly great varia-
ton in the cubic contents, but it is
common practice to repack from con-
tanners of greater capacity to those
of less in distributing in and to the
retail trade Likewise with peaches.
The successful commercial orchardist
packs his peaches according to the
size of the fruit and often when he
buys his own fruit he finds that where
he had packed as high as SO to As
in each four-quart basket, the re
taller has repacked only 10 to 25
peaches in the same basket.
Standard Barrel Is Coming.
Under the weights and measures
power of the constitution, congress has
recently established the standard bar
rel for apples, cranberries and certain
other fruits. This act becomes effec-
tive July 1, 1916. Undoubtedly this
barrel will replace a large number of
short meaure packages which are used
for potatoes, truck crops, fruit and
other things, and which vary in ca
pacity from two bushels up to ten or
twelve peckS. The standardization of
apple boxes, berry crates and cups, |
and other containers is under consid- +
Grafton, and we may look forward to /
progress with reference to these"
THE gradual tendency of this coun-
try is toward landlord ownership of
land" Charles w. Holman, secretary,
today told the conference.
1.-The condition is threatening to be-
come almost as complicated as during
20 rln1 H. I'D
Men live in luxury in cities, with
money made with the labor of tenants.
The condition is leading this country
to an unfortunate economic condition
almost as unfortunate as the cOndi-
ton from which Ireland was just
pulled
Ireland Breaks ShackIes.
Ireland, lie said, has been led from
the oppression of the landlords. Eng
land passed a law permitting the
the landlords. Then they resold the
land to Irish farmers under terms the
farmers could bear. A new system of
agriculture and marketing has fur
her aided Ireland to become prosper
0us, he said.
w. G. Scholtz, director of the Idaho
department of markets, told the con-
ference why Idaho created a depart
nent of markets. That the idea of
state assistance in farm marketing has
come to stay was his belief. He de-
-ailed how the Idaho law works. First,
t affords a state employment bureau
where farmers wanting men and men
wanting jobs can get together without
expense to either. The bureaus sec
)nd function is to investigate pro
noters' circulars and prevent misrep-
The third function of
he bureau, marketing farm products,
$ more gigantic in its scope, and slow
er to get under way, he said.
Frank L. McVey, chairman of the
conference, in welcoming the delegates
asst night, declared cooperative mar
1eting forecasts agricultural pros
1erity.
Willard r. Meyers, editor of the
American Cooperative Journal, said
armers cooperative markets had
been universally successful, and their
not common.