The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-09-06
1aps He Has Become Naurazed now Shooting the Bull
TO HELP MARKET CROPS
Quotations viii Be Given Daily by
Department of Agriculture.

OI. JOHuSDuTy, otpl. l. Inc lOllON
ing from The Caledonian will be Of
interest:
The State Of Vermont proposes to
aid the food producers of the state in
marketing the crops produced this
season. The following letter from f.
S. Brigham, commissioner of agricul-
ture tells how it will be done:
Editor of The Caledonian:
Replying to your letter of August
oath asking for statement concern
ing the marketing situation in Yer
mont and also asking what the state
is planning to do in reference to it. |
will say that in response to the call
made last spring for increased pro-
duction, Vermont farmers have very
largely increased their acreages of
such crops as beans, potatoes and
vegetables. The marketing of these
emergency crops at price which will
return cost to the grower and a fair
profit, presents the immediate mar
keting problem. Whether or not this
will be a difficult problem, remains
to be seen because these crops have
not sufficiently matured so that the
total volume of production of the en-
tire country can be accurately fore
casted; neither can the consumptiye
demand under present conditions be
definitely predicted, But, however,
this may be, the farmers problem is
to send his crops to the market which
will pay most for them and at the
time when these crops are in the
greatest demand.
The time Of sale is the first factor
involved Whether il is better to
sell potatoes and other vegetables
from the field at the time of harvest
or to store and hold for future sale,
is a question about which it is diff
cult to give definite advice and each
farmer would do well to study the
problem for himself, taking into ac-
count the probable nationwide sup
| ply and demand. OF course, the un
loading of a large crop of potatoes on
the market in the fall would cause a
slump i'm price which would be un
warranted and ruinous. If prices fall
below a certain level provisions
| should be made by each grower for
| storage until the market is in more
favorable condition The majority OF
| farm houses have large cellars in
which may be stored several hundred
| bushels of potatoes and vegetables
so that / do not anticipate any grea
| trouble in storing the increased crops
in Vermont However in case there
is a shortage of storage space in an.
community temporary provisions
should be made, even though th'
easements of public buildings have t
be utilized as is the case in som,
European countries.
The state should be of assistance
in furnishing accurate and up-to-dat'
information concerning prices paid il
the leading markets of the country
We have arranged with the Bostol
Office of the United States bureau o
markets to wire us each day the priC
es paid for potatoes in Boston an
New York during the potato diggin
season. We shall send this informa
tion to all the daily newspapers O
the state which care to publish it. i
this way. farmers may be kept Il
formed through the daily papers a
to the exact market conditions in tn
city. Last year Boston dealer tol
me that he purchased several hur
dred bushels of potatoes from fol
i men in Orleans county at a price Q
Sl10 per bushel. The price paid tn
same day in northern Maine farthe
from the market, was Sl.45 per bushC
This dealer was feeling happy owe
the money he had made, because {
the Vermont farmers ignorance
market prices II should be our all
to make such conditions impossible
| Our market agent. NJ. II. Tolstrul
will prepare list of commission mel
considered reliable, in cities With
shipping distance from Vermont
whom cars of potatoes may be COZ
signed, Mr.. Tolstrup will also speu
the greater portion of his time in Il
market during the potato shippir
season, noting conditions of shi
, ments as they arrive and seeing th'
Vermont farmers are accorded ia
| treatment
! All beans, potatoes and vegetabl,
which are placed on the mark
q should be carefully graded in accor
= ance with the established standar,
. for the respective product. This W
. be particularly true If there should
a large surplus in the country of al
- of these products. Carefully grad
= products will pass through the cha
nels of trade rapidly without loss al
will command highest prices, viii
ungraded products are often paid
|. on the basis of the poorer rather thi
- the better part of the shipment. Fl
!, information should be provided as
the methods of grading products a
each grower should carefully &C
:, form to the requirements of the mi
ket.
= Very truly yours,
:. Il. S. Brigham.
Commissioner of Agriculture