The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-07-17

ersparsd By the United States Depart
msnt of ARrieuitursD
Many farmers who have consigned
products 90 commission merchants
have experienced trouble nt one time
or another and. have accused the mid
dlefnan with unfair dealings. In some
cases. perhaps too often. there have
been betraynls Of trust on the part Of
city dealers. but all the shortcomings
attributed 10 the commission business
are not the fault Of the merchant. In
all contracts between producers and
their agents. the commission men. each
party has certain rights and certain
duties and unless one Of the parties
performs all OF his duties he has no
right 10 blame the other party for
failure 10 secure the best results, says
the United States department Of agri-
culture.
An example Of how the commission
merchant IL sometimes falsely accused
In told by q bureau OF markets special
ist who. early In his farming expert
enee made frequent use Of these mer-
chants as q medium OF marketing farm
products. Many OF his consignment
deals were Disappointing. he says, and
II was easy 60 drop 90 the rnnks OF
those who condemn before they In
yestigate. Among the berries he pro-
dueed were a few Of such attractive
appearance and appetizing favor that
Il was natural 20 believe that ship
ment OF such fruit 10 the city market
ought 10 be profitable. Imagine his
surprise and indignation when his first
shipment Of these superior berries was
reported as undesirable" and soft
and leaking" He determined 10 In
yestiEate. made another shipment. and
arranged tc' be present. though un-
known. when the sale was made. He
WINS able 20 identify HIS berries in the
city market By a stencil number on
each crate. He was astOnished 10
learn that. however nne the berries
might have been when eaten fresh
from the fieid. they were 30 soft and
tender that they could not reach the
market IN attractive condition. The
commission man could not he blamed
for the unfavorable sales which re
suited: and this experience taught the
grower 20 raise varieties that were
not only good but which would carr
well
Avoid Competing win Yovrssif.
One grower who gave great care
20 his pack had created q sharp de-
mand for HIS products. and his brand
was sought by discriminating buyers
Since he feared that one commission
merchant would not be able 10 dis
pose Of his entire crop 20 advantage.
he divided his daily shipment amo1s
town. Not being satisfied with the re-
turns. he visited the city and dis
covered that the four dealers 70 whom
he VAS shipping were located not only
on the same street. bot In the same
stOrerOom- The shippers fancy packed
products were on sale nj four places,
and buyers were forcing the -four
dealers 20 compete. with n Fesultr1I
cut In prices. The farmer changed
his method. shipped all Of this product
10 one agent who could set a fancy
price for this fancy pack. and there
was no competition 20 destroy bia
market.
eUOossaIOns 10 Shippers
For those who contemplate the uss
Of commission mea ~ MARKETING
agents. the bureau of markets Offers
the following suggestions:
l. Know your agent. Select Ona
who has a reputation backed By expe
rienee. en advantageous .locntion. and
competent help. A personal visit viii
help the farmer In deciding these
points. Have q clear Understanding
ne 10 charges 10 be made Cor services
selling. carriage. storage. repaeking
ete. Avoid unknown firms that make
unreasonable promises a. 10 what thsJ
win DO With shipments Among q
many dealers II - not sHyprising thai
sonae 80 buainecs throaGh fFauduienl
representation aEd drop Ouf of sigh
a. soon a. . -ciean-up- has been e.
feefed
2 Know your market Prom y0uI
carefully selected agent learn IN
needs of TIE markef. the m0gt desir
able varieties % fnlse. pr0peT contain
eFs n whteA % pack nnd shkp. ntyll
% paeh most desired. ire uas ~ Iabell
o. bFanan pseper 4nionala nnd llnIa n
shIpnenl, and local lneftrQhsnEs HurI
~ tlai luf nh'lt s2ka In ChaenNa end
lur hfoNn e9as M NaalpMt 1xy h
saisr q esisi'na p',fAs' as~sn'.