Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-06-28

ent corporation under the laws of Maine.
For loyalty to the principles we profess,
we depend upon the business intelligence
of those who manage the local unions.
Apples.
! l will say frankly that we are not in a
position to handle apples to the satisfac-
ton of the growers. To handle apples
correctly we must be properly equipped
for the business. In my opinion the best
method to dispose of this product is
through the auction system, and in
short time, or before harvest arrives we
believe we will have perfected arrange
ments whereby we can and will handle
apples through an auction system of
selling.
| For some. time we have been investigat-
ing the selling of potatoes by auction, ana
by fall we will give the locals an oppor-
tunity to try out this method of selling.
Sackins Potatoes.
! l strongly advise that all our locals
ship their potatoes in bags. Bulk ship
| ping is very uncertain and usually un-
satisfactory. A union ships a car to the
market and their scales say there were
| 200 bushels in it. The buyer takes up the
draft, works out the car, and his scales
say there is a shortage. The Union is
sure that they gave full weight, and the
buyer is equally sure that they did not
! give correct weight This situation has
become serious. If claim is made in
good faith and there was really short
age, then the claim should be paid
! promptly. Many of these claims remain
unsettled and as a result we have a num-
Der of buyers who absolutely refuse to
/ buy the potatoes from unions that do not
pay their claims. In all cases these
| claims should be settled in some way
and not have them standing against YOU
! If the union has proof that they loaded
| 700 bushels in the car, then they should
! fight it out with the buyer and arrive at
some kind of a settlement that will leave
the situation clear to do further business.
If all the claims are refused the union
will soon find themselves short of buyers
and unable to dispose of your stock AS
before stated, the sacking of the potatoes
will do away with this disturbing influence
and in fact bulk shipment should not be
tolerated, for there is no possible way to
adjust differences to the satisfaction OF
/ both buyer and seller.
! l regret to say that the Boston Distrib-
uting House cannot always satisfy every
shipper, and it is difficult for your man
/ ager to find way that would be to the
entire liking of all the unions. In investf-
/ eating the troubles that have come to the
| front l have always found that when
| there was hold up or car turned down
there was apparently good reason for do
ing this. l see stock that had been In
. voiced as primes turn out to be seconds.
In such cases as this your manager is alb
solutely unable to put up an argument as
to why the buyer should take the car.
| / have had complaints made and | went
to Boston, and in every case l found the
trouble came from poor stock, except in
| one or two cases where returns were
slow in arriving. This is because of the
fact that our capital is not over half as
large as it should be, and 1 hope we will
find a way to place $4,000 at the disposal
of the management. l desire in closing
this question to say that l believe and
know that the Boston business is car
ried on honestly and l congratulate the
unions on this fact
l would recommend that committee
be appointed to take up all matters per-
taining to the potato business, including
| marketing, sorting, and grading, and
this committee be the receiver of all COM
plants and suggestions, and that they
report their findings at this session.
Poisons.
Posons the same as commercial fertili-
zer has been effected by the war in Eu-
| rope. Every ingredient or chemical from
Uh no a1,t
been utilized for war purposes and instead
of being used to produce crops and feed
the nation it has, and is being used to
murder mankind.
Paris Green is quoted at 80 cents the
pound. Ceper Sulphate at IS and 30 cents.
Murlate of potash is worth $500 per ton.
The price of nitrate of soda has also adj
vanced as this material is used to manu-
facture powder. Arsenate of lead is for
tunately but little higher than last sea-
son. The farmer is inquiring where the
copper sulphate is to be obtained and in
many cases he will inquire in vain For
tunately, however, there are other fungi
cides and insecticides that will fill the re-
quirements if properly used.
Among quite number of these insecti-
cldes and fungicides the Farmers Union
has selected Meetings. Hydroxcide. We
believe that this mixture will fill the re-
quirements perhaps better than similar
mixtures Start the spray with seven
pounds of the mixture and gradually in
crease, and about rust time use 10 and 10
pounds, and it will be found that rust
will be retarded and the bugs killed.
Marketing the Product of the Farm.
The farmers Union of Maine was or
ganized having in view the marketing of
the product of the farm, and we must al
ways keep in mind that this Is the main
principal for which we must strive 1t is
not to be understood by this that we are
to lose sight of other lines. We should
own the wholesale grain house at Water
Vile; we should contract for fertilizer
and other supplies and the union should
buy through the sources provided by the
central organization.
Marketing is however the main object
and our energies must be directed toward
lettering marketing conditions. Maine is
potato state, therefore it is the potato |
that claims much of our attention. |
There Is need of reform along this line,
and the management are gradually work.
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