The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-20
Does Not Believe Market
Would Become Important
Before Next
Year.
COULD Be OPENED NOW
Campaign of Education
Should Be Conducted
During Winter.

County Agricultural Agent H. L.
Smith. who was just beginning the an
nual series of farmers institutes in
this county when the announcement
was made that a location had been Sc
cured for a municipal market house
took the matter up with the farmers OF
each locality in which Institutes were
held, and he said Saturday that the
principal obstacle to the early success
of the market project will be that the
farmers have not been prepared TO do
their part. 1t is Farmer Smiths belief
that II the project is taken up at once
it should be with clear understanding
that not much will come OF 1t before
the garden crops begin to come in next
year, In the mean time 1t will be nee
essary to carry on campaign OF edu'
cation with the farmers and with the
Fairmont consumers.
To begin with, according to Farmer
Smiths view-and 1t is no new thought
with him as he has had 1t more or less
In mind ever since he came into this
district in 1914,-Marion county rural
conditions do not encourage the grow
ing Of market crops. The land that II
best adapted for that purpose is owneo
by PEOPLE WHO lack the energy them
selves to truck It and who hold 1t at
such terms that no one can make mon
ey on 1t aB Q tenant. Land that can DO
bought or rented on reasonable terms
10 50 poor that 1t will be several years
before It could DO made 70 turn Q rea'
sonpbIe profit on truck farming basis,
otcourse there 10 some trucking and
small fruit farming done In Marion
county. Mr.. Smith said that perhaps
100 farmers bring stuff TO Eairmont
But these farmers are not particularly
interested In the market proposition be.
cause practically all Of them have reg.
ular customers where they can dispose
of their stock at figures that are some
times even better than the stores get.
Other farmers who have tried this plan
Of marketing their truck abandoned 1t
because they found that they could not
do cash business and did not want to
be bothered running after their mon
ey. Such farmers, Of course, have gone
back to general farming and grow only
such vegetables as they need them.
selves.
Some of the farmers Mr.. Smith spoke
to during the institute meetings said
that they would be willing to give the
Fairmont market trial II they had
anything to sell, but that the season OF
the year is approaching when they
would not have enough to make even
a weekly trip to the market worth
while,
Farmer Smiths present belief is that
the first step toward the establishment
of successful municipal market in
Fairmont is some sort of a meeting OF
the producers and the consumers to
talk the plan over and find out If pos
sible just what each side can count
upon and to get acquainted. It is his
theory that there can be no satisfactory
business until both parties get aCquaint-
ed. Then, after there is some under
standing as to what 1t is desired to &C.
complish, to carry on a campaign Of
education both in the city and the
country districts throughout the win.
ter 80 that next spring the farmers
would plan for the market and the peo-
pie would make plans to get their sup.
plies next summer from the market
people instead Of from the grocers.
This plan does not necessarily mean
that the market house should not be