The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-02-09
(From Weekly News Letter, Z. 3. De-
partment Of Agriculture.(

to market various KINDS OF pro-
duce by parcel post, and there are Also
many town and city residents VINO
would like to receive produce or Oil
ferent kinds direct from the country.
One Of the principal difficulties in get
ting p.rcel-post marketing started 50
far is the producer is concerned, is
finding a customer for what ne has 70
market, and, with the city housewife
the fnding of q farmer who can sup
ply what she desires. The question
with both producer and consumer is.
"How can ! make q contact IN order
to market by parcel post!
The producer may get into touch
with persons who desire to market by
parcel lost in several ways:
% A start may be made with an
acquaintance in town or city, or such
town or city acquaintance may put the
producer into touch with some one
who desires to market by parcel post
f2) 1t is suggested that many town
and city physicians have patients VINO
need strictly fresh eggs regularly, ana
by making inquiry of a number OF
city physicians arrangements couIo
doubtless be made not only for EGGS
but for many other articles as we'll.
(2) A small advertisement in a city
paper might produce satisfactory re-
SulIS. "A HuIIlDtI VI tltS LIN otAS
papers are making d specially of a
parcel post advertising column or sec
ton. which might be tried.
(4) The Postoflce Department has
instructed the poStmasterS i'll a num-
Der Of cities throughout the country
to issue a list Of producers, showing
what each one has to offer for sale by
parcel post, these lists being distrlb-
uted free to the patrons Of the office.
The cities which to date have been
thus designated to conduct parcel post
marketing campaigns are:
Athens. Ga, Atlanta, Ga, Austin,
Tex, Baltimore. Nd, Birmingham.
Ala, Boston, Mass, Brooklyn, n. Y,
Chicago, ILL.,, Cincinnati, Ohio, Cleve-
land, Ohio. Dallas. Tex, Denver, Colo,
Detroit, Mich, Galveston, Tex. Hart
ford. Conn.,. Indianapolis. n d La
Crosse, Wis. Lawrence, Mass, Los
Angeles. Cal. Louisville. KY, Lynn,
Mass, Nashville. Tenn, New Orleans,
La. Philadelphia, "a. Portland
Va, Rock Island. ILL.,, st. Louis. Mo-,
San Francisco. Cal, Seattle, Wash.
Washington. d. c.
CD roducers who desire to develop
marketing by parcel post on more
than a small scale might find it de.
sirable to go to the city, select thu
proper kind Of q residential section
AAloNV a Y III SOLiiN aSo VI kliS lOuoS
wives. and arrange for trial or sampl.
ehipm entA
City housewives nay find some o
the foregoing suggestions useful II
making contact with producers from
whom they can secure such articles
as they desire. In addition to this
they could doubtless obtain ready re
pon to an advertisement in som,
county or agricultural paper circulat
Ing In a section where they know the,
could secure the kin and quality o
produce wanted.
Much dissatisfaction has resulte
from farmers aSking unreaSOnab
prices for the articles they offer 70
sale. 1t Is necessary to have knOwl
edge OF what the various kinds Q
produce sell for in order bat prope
prices may be fixed. 1t is a little NOR
trouble to the farmer to sell throug
parcel post than in the ordinary wa!
and IL is also somewhat more troubl
to the city housewife to market b
parcel post. She has to attend to til
ordering. the returning Of empty col
tainers or market baskets. and tn
making OF remittances. In considel
alton Of these facts the producer mu!
receive a better price than he ord
narily does, and the consumer Shout
secure a better article than ordinaril
at the same price OF an article Of TT
same quality at a somewhat owe
price.
The cost Of marketing a family ST
ed Quantity of any commodity
greater in proportion than that
marketing a lot of 10 or Is barre
or n carload, and this must be consi'
cred in adjusting II price. Meth
the producer nor the consumer shou
expect to hav all the difference
price on his side: it must be divid,
equitably between the two. taking in
consideration the cost of containe
the postage. the ordinary or loo
price obtainable by the producer. al
the retail price which would have
be paid by the consumers we'll
the extra bit OF work or attention I
Quired on the part OF both parties
the transaction. This fixing of a pro
er price is an important item in ma
ing q start and has much to do wi
the continuance or permanency of
direct-marketing proposition, once
tablished.