Semi-weekly herald., 1916-04-24
REL ALTON BETWEEN THE
MERCHANT AND FARMER
BY Prof. John ID. Jarvis, Advisory
Expert Department of Dairy De-
velopment The De Laval Separat-

ilNAflDAN if.AiA EACcuIldNlbhs
We are living in new area, a
>new age, and new business problems
are constantly before US. The bust
ness methods of the merchant of a
few years ago are not the business
methods of the merchant of today.
There is constant evolution in all
things, plants, animals, human be-
logs and business methods. This
evolution is advancement. We are
not turning back but we are gradu-
ally progressing. We, as Americans
believe in progress, believe in educa-
ton, believe in building up and not
tearing down, believe in the spirit
of service and believe in helping our
fellow men. In fact, the spirit of CO.
operation or interdependcnce among
all classes in business is the live is
sue of today.
Has the thought ever occurred to
you, gentlemen, that if the merchant
helps his customers to progress, he
likewise r'ill PROCESS His custom
er is the farmer; he is the greatest
producer of any class in business;
likewise he is the greatest purchas-
er When he earns more money, he
will spend more money.
Since many farmers in this coun-
try did not have an opportunity to
acquire good basic knowledge of
the science of agriculture when they
We're young men, and hence are not
proficient as they should be, many
manufacturing enterprises, boards Of
trade and banking associations are
devoting time, effort and expense to
the betterment of agricultural meth
ods. There is an economic reason
why the farmers should be given
this attention; according to James
Hill, the greatest railroad builder Of
the northwest, "Forty years ago a
farmer had to provide for but one
other than himself. Today every
farmer must provide food for two
besides himself" 1t is good policy
for commercial enterprises to assist
their customers to Il greater earning
power to assist them to earn two
dollars where they now earn but one,
so they may spend proportionate
part of the extra dollar for better
education of their children, more
comforts for their homes, to pur
chase better farm implements and
equipment and to enjoy the beautiful
III life.
A Regular Income
The recent report of the Depart
ment of Agriculture for 1915 shows
an enormous amount of wealth, over
ten billion of dollars, from the farms
Of this country and of that wealth
dairy products are second only to
to the corn crop. Dairy products.
Milk, butter, cheese, condensed milk
ice cream, milk powder, milk sugar
and casein amounting to nearly a
billion dollars gave a greater income
to the people of this nation than the
combined total crops of Irish pota
toes, sweet potatoes, tobacco, barley
sugar beets sugar cane, rye, rice
and wool. Dairy products are great
er in value than the wheat crop, hay
crop or the cotton crop and yet
many farmers and business men con-
slider dairyine as a woman's work
Men as Il rule prefer physical labor
blowing, planting, harvesting ard
threshing of grain crops, or feeding
large herds of steers or hogs. They
want 10 receive their money in large
sums and get-rich quickly. They for
get that it is the small things that
count, "That if you take care Of She
pennies, the dollars will take care
of themselves"
Dairying is a cash business and as
a cash business it tends to remove
the evil of credit. The grain man
the feeder of cattle, and the fruit
man each receives money in lump
sums once or twice a year. He may
get a crop, and then again he may
not. This is not the case with the
intelligent dairy farmer. He gets
his crop morning and night, and this
crop can be turned into cash daily
These small daily returns in the
course of a year amount to consider
able cash. He who receives this
money in small amounts and at reg
ular intervals becomes thrifty and
pays as he goes, and does not run up
unnecessary accounts. This is one
of the first requisites of prosperity;
hence, dairying brings prosperity
Prosperity results in business build
ing; therefore, dairying is a bus
ness builder.
For proof that dairying is a bust
ness builder, have but to refer you
to the wonderful growth of business
in Wisconsin caused by the develop