The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-01-11
MARKETING BOARD.

attention OF our readers, ana eSpe-
cially of those residing in the farm
ing sections, to something which
must come in the next few years.
We refer to a marketing board for
farm products. Every person who
las had experience in such matters
knows that certain farm products
cannot be marketed profitable ex-
cept the growers market these
products. themselves. The state
Afenf is illustrated by the fruit in
dustry in the South. Several years
ago large numbers of our people
embarked on the fruit-growing in
dustry and planted acres of orchards
IN Elberta peaches. When the sea-
SOM came to market the peaches,
there was no market. Of course
the wholesaler would take the
peaches and sell them but when the
reports came in the balance was on
the wrong side of the ledger. The
frsit-growers then got together and
formed the Fruit-Growers Associa-
ton, and since then they have been
marketing their peaches through
this Association managed by a SELL
ing board and they have found that
there is a market for their fruit,
with ever increasing prices.
The same would be true Of the
marketing of cotton in the South if
the farmers would quit listening to
broken-legged and braying politi-
eians and get down to real business
for the protection of their own in
terests. With the cotton sold in
South Carolina in the hands of a
competent selling board which it is
easy to have, the prices received
may be easily increased. The same
ding is true of the cotton seed.
But, most of all, we need such a
selling board to take care of our
other products. The cry has been
these many months that we should
raise other crops than cotton for the
market. But the answer has been
all the while that there is no market
In the South except for cotton. But
there could be market for these
crops if the farmers went at the
matter in a right way. Take for
instance sweet potatoes. What is
there to keep the farmers of Able
vile county from producing a mil
hon bushels of sweet potatoes, and
selling them at a good profit? Moth
ing in the world except that they
need to prepare place to house
them when they are gathered until
the price justifies sale, and in
the meantime having these potatoes
sorted, classified and made ready
for shipment. This can be done by
having a selling board at the county
seat or some other convenient
point or points, having power to
act for the farmers jointly in all
matters. And we are beginning to
raise beef cattle. No man will like
Ey have q carload of cattle to offer
ut any one time, But number of
men might be able by combining
their interests to. offer a carload
zach month! Does anybody believe
that they. would not get better
prices by. so doing, and by having
= selling board for all farm pro-
ducts which keeps up with the mar
kets, knows where they are, how to
ship and the best means of market
mlS CHeSe. CnlHSS!
The South is on the eve of a
great wave of prosperity. The pa
pers in the. North are complaining
Hiat Southern statesmen are in the
saddle and "riding like help. But
the riding we are doing in politics
Is but small matter as compared
with the riding the farmers of the
South can do in the markets if they
will look after their own affairs
handle their business on the same
Business methods that other bust
ness men handle theirs, take charge
sf the selling and marketing of theil
swn products, and cut out the enor
NOUS profits made by those who