Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-12-17
SOUTH PARIS, MAINE TUESDAY, DECEMBER H. 1913.
Farm AdyertisIng By slgns.

Farm Advertising by Signs.
The state of New York recently took
census Of the supplies of Oil kinds
available on the farms of that state. A.
RESULT Of this census, which was taken
In connection with the movement toward
food conservation, It was found that
many of the needs of farmers, particu-
larly In the way OF seeds, could be sup
piled right among neigb6ors.
attended Q farmers meeting at which
the question of obtaining seed was
brought up. One man wanted seed
buck wheat and had been unable TO Sc
cure any from the feed dealers. An.
other man present was found to have 30
bushels that he wanted to sell. It was
the same In other needs. The obvious
fact was that much OF the shortage Of
seed could be supplied without difficulty
right near home.
Not having regularly to depend upon
advertising to sell bis products, the
farmer does not resort naturally to that
means of disposing of any surplus he
may have on hand. Farmers do not
recognize In advertising clearing house,
through which they can supply the
wants of their neighbors and fill their
own. Farmers are rarely found adver.
tisIng in the local newspapers the fact
that they have something to sell, and
almost never do We find them advertising
their wants. The result Is waste here
and want there, surplus on one farm and
shortage on another not faS away. While
there is opportunity and good reason
for the farmer advertising 10 the local
newspapers, II is not that kind of adver-
tising I want to suggest here, but the
kind of advertising the farmer can do
without expense and without having to
20 to the newspaper-the advertising be
can do right at home on the farm.
This is the kind of advertising the
farmer does when he puts out sign:
"Pigs for Sale" A yard full of pigs be-
side the road might be seen by every
passerby, and they might be for sale,
but how many farmers would think Of
their being for sale2 The sign, "Pigs
for Sale" Immediately makes possible
customers out of all the passing farmers
and stock buyers. A farm that pass
every few days raises nice apples, but l
never thought of stopping there to buy
apples until saw Ducketful out beside
the road one day with sign on them
"25 cents bucket"
There Is so much more travel on our
highways now than there used to be that
the farmer has a much wider audience
for bis roadside announcement. He
reaches people coming from farther
points, farmers from distant parts OF bis
county. Roadside advertising is worth
more to the farmer than 1t ever was be.
fore. Another condition that makes
this advertising pull harder is the fact
that everybody has all OF sudden be-
come vitality interested In farm products
and In securing them at the lowest pos
sible prices. There never was q time
before when the farmer could count on
customers coming to him to buy, just as
hey 60 to the stores to buy, but to-day
they will do 1t. They have the auto
mobiles with which to get there and
they have the need for his product.
The farmers advertising outfit need
consist Of nothing more than dozen or
so sheets Of manila paper and heavy,
soft marking crayon, preferably black.
II heavy charcoal crsyons are not obtain.
able, q bottle of black marking Ink and
marking brush can be bought at the
stationer's shop for small price.
| It is not necessary to be able to do
fancy lettering. What is needed 10
plain, readable lettering. The farmer
with boy in school has ., helper who
will take up sign making and, With q
little practice, make very good bulletins.
Have neatly painted post on which
to hang your bulletin board, or have q
we'll painted board on which your paper
signs can be tackled or pasted. When 3
sign is old, take 1t down. Don't leave
up an unsightly sign, whether the stuff
has been sold or not. If you continue
to want to sell, make new sign every
few days and have 1t differently worded.
This will attract the attention of the
same men over and over again, when
they would not glance Q second time at
the same old sign.
Don't stop with advertising your prod.
ucts for sale by this means. When you
want to buy anything, advertise that,
too. If other farmers know that; you
habituslly put up your wants on the
sign board, they will 60 out OF their way
to pass 1t, and the oftener see what you
advertise for sale.
Perhaps your farm is back from the
main road or state road. Put q sign
down at the corner of the main road
Even get permission from the farmer
who owns the corner to putup your sign
post on his lot.
YOUR OWN, NOT OTHER SIGNS.
1t could almost be called patriotic
duty on the part of every farmer just
now to let other people know Of what
supplies he has surplus. II certainly
is good business. It is an economical
way of selling because every load Of
produce that can be sold right at the
farm, without necessity Of delivery to
any outside point, is sold at . better
profit. a. ~
There was time when merchants
gave up their windows to the bill poster
for the circus, or the "Big, Double Uncle
Toms Cabin" but that timeis past, and
when see farmers barn painted over
advertising for somebody's liver pills,
or for some nostrum or other, wonder
| IL it isn't about time for the farmer, like
bis fellow business man In town, to come
to a realization of the fact that II bis
advertising space is valuable, It is worth
more to him to advertise bis own busi-
ness than anybody will pay for It to
advertise something outside.
One reason why farmers In good
many localities become one-crop men,
and cease to give attention to anything
but milk or cabbages or peas, or pepper
mint or cattle or wheat, 10 that they do
not find 1t easy to sell other products
than the one that is sold all ct one or
two big deals. This advertising that q
farmer can do for nothing, right ct bis
door, or that he can do at somewhat
greater cost on the broadside of bis
barn, will make It possible for him to
dispose OF other things than bis one
main crop. and II will make. It possible
for him to get good price for. side
products delivered to the customer With.
ont going off from the farm to make
delivery In the city and. get the money
Frank Harrington In N. 3. Homestead.
cultlvatlng Appreclatioa Of Animals.
The admiration Of good domestic
animal ls much to be desired. It devel.
ops Q most responsible attitude In the
man or woman. ! have observed .
peculiar charm In the breeders Of these
wonderful animals, . certain polss and
masterfulness and breadth of sympathy.
To admire q good horse and know wby
he sdmires him 10 great RESOURCE to
any man, ss also ofeel the responsibilitJ
for the care and health of any Aock sof