The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-01-16

be selected. A simple, though attractive and businesslike letterhead can be printed without much cost It should give thet name and location of the farm, the farmers name, and a simple statement of the business. Elaborate and highlyf colored 1etterheads embellshed with il- lustrations of buildings, fruits, or ani- mals should be avoided
 Blank statement forms or invoices to fill in and inclose with shipments should be supplied. Persons receiving produce by mail wish to know the price of the shipment, and by the use of printed state ment forms the shipper can furnish this information without much trouble.
 LABELLING PARCELS
 Each parcel must bear the name and address of the shipper, the name and ad- dress of the person for whom intended, and the nature of the contents, such as Fragile or "Perishable'' As tags fre- quently are torn off, it is best to have this information written or stamped di- rectly on the outer wrapper or container. If the only mark of identity of pro ducer and consumer is on a tag and the tag is lost, the parcel can neither be delivered nor returned to the sender. Producers who have business enough to justify them may secure gummed labels worded somewhat as follows:
 From
 Fair View Farm,
 John Brown, Proprietor.
 Blank, Virginia.
 PERISHABLE.
 EGGS.
 The wording may be changed to suit the product shipped, changing Eggs" to Poultry, Butter or Vegetables" and "Perishable" to Fragile" as the case may require. \
 These labels, if properly applied, should not come off. They will serve as an advertisement and may result in inquiries, from other customers.
 RELATIONS WITH CUSTOMERS Once contact has been made and ship ping begun it is important that proper business relations be established and maintained, for on these depend success. The difficulty frequently met in ob- taining the first order makes it important for the producer to use business like methods to retain the trade that he se- cures. Whether a person is successful in par ce, post marketing depends largely on his adaptability to this work. If routine and detailed work is distasteful to him he may never learn how to keep up a, business relationship. Thousands of perl sons who have been successful in ob- taining customers have been unsuccessful in keeping them. Much has been learned! from the experience of both successful and unsuccessful shippers
 The most important feature in busi1 ness relationship is a square deal Good grading of produce, strict business hon esty, prompt attention to correspondence and orders, and satisfactory adjustment Of complaints are needed. The consumer as well as the producer should do his part in these matters. DIRECT DEALING SUCCEEDS
 Housewives appreciate receiving farm produce which they know to be fresh' Many farmers within 150 miles of cities have regular supplies of high-g grade pro5 duce, the quality of which they can guarantee. The parcel post offers means of direct dealing between prot ducer and consumer, with profit to both!
 Parcel post shipments are increasing in number, though probably they always. will affect only a small percentage oF the farm produce that goes to market. Dealing by parcel post succeeds if the farmer is careful to keep up the quality of his produce. packs it safely and att tractively, and meets his engagements promptly-always supposng that the conS sumner also observes business methods in the transaction.
 The U. S. department of agriculture sI farmers bulletin 922. Parcel Post Busi- ness Methods" gives detailed suggestions regarding means of obtaining customers and methods of carrying on business, with samples of suitable letterheads, bills, order blanks and other business forms. !