The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-19
BY WILLIAM r. sAN5oRN

history. 1t is the nations cnlel dsrf
cultural problem, and the subject OF
more local discussion in farm circles
than is any other phase OF farm en-
deavor.
Not only is this true but the general
public is vitality interested. First, be-
cause the prosperity or the farmer is
largely the basis of the prosperity OF
the nation. Secondly, the whole
people are interested in an abundant
food supply at prices that all can al
ford to pay And, thirdly the coun-
try is beginning to inquire: How
much of the dollar paid out by the ul-
innate consumer is received by the
original producer of meats, grains,
fruits, melons, vegetables, poultry,
eggs and butter?"
The public now takes more interest
in the welfare of the farmer, the
basic producer, than ever before. We
are beginning to inquire as to the why
of his discomfort: to ask what is
wrong with agriculture in the great
est agricultural country on the planet.
We are wondering how much, or how
little, the farmer received for the wool
in the warm garments worn by the
women and children in our homes.
How much did the farmer get for the
wool in our own $50 suit, or in the
comforting pair of Atwood blankets
for which we have paid $25 or more?
We Want to Know
All of these things now interest US.
We are curious to learn why there
is so much farm legislation in discus
sion in congress. Why the need Of
so many bills and measures, all pri-
marily designed to help the farmer,
with the ultimate object Of benefitting
all the rest of US?
And SO we are reading up on this
vast subject We are thoughtfuIly
trying to arrive at some conclusion.
We are broadening our outlook and
are trying to sense world conditions
and their effect directly on our own,
as nation.
The average man, immersed in his
own work or bushes, has given little
thought to this subject, or in relation
to our farmers. But the old order
changeth. An appreciation of the fact
f. that, if anything is seriously wrong
with our farmers, as a class, that con-
current effects are felt in every line of
trade and industry, has given us new
viewpoint and broadened our perspec-
tive.
Professor BoyIe's Views.
Prof. James E Boyle. of Cornell col
lege, read a most interesting paper on
our present subject before the thirty
third annual meeting of the American
Economic association at Atlantic City,
in December, 1920. His topic-"The
Marketing Problem" had particular
appeal to such a gathering. He re-
ferred, first of all, to the nationwide
discussion then prevailing and re-
marked: "True, too much of the dis
cussion sheds more heat than light
on the problem. 1t seems to be the
open season for middlemen. Perhaps,
he said, the North Dakota farmer
voiced the popular feeling when he
said: Curse these middlemen! ! wish
/ was one"
In continuing the professor said
"a prominent granger in northern
state declares the present middlemar
system is inefficient, bunglesome
wasteful and costly"
The Middleman Talks Back.
"a successful middfeman replies;
The present system of farming IS in
efficient, bunglesome, wateful, anc
costly. Continuing his criticism o.
the farmer, he points out that very
ordinary farmer now raises "a bushel:
of corn per acre, but the average fol
all American farmers is only q bush
els per acre, or so percent efficiency
that a good farmer grows % bushels
of wheat per acre, but the American
farmer on the average is getting blu
IA bushels; that the scientific and ur
to-date cotton farmer is making so
pounds of cotton per acre. but tn
average cotton farmer in the Unite,
States is getting only $50 pounds t
the acre, or SO percent efficiency. Tn
middleman continues his criticism b.
saying that only small percent of tn
crop is No. l corn or No. / wheat o
good middling cotton. In short, tn
average farmer is not efficient as I
either quality or quantity of produc
And further, says the middleman t
his critics. the farmer is needlessl
reducing his crop yield by CROWN
harmful weeds. the yield being RI
duced - percent in corn, percen
in tame hay, percent in potatoes, /
percent in spring wheat, Z percent i
winter wheat, and 81 percent in pa!
ture. Or, briefly. the preventable lea
from this one source runs we'll over
billion dollars year. A perfect ma
keting system waits on perfect pr
ducuOn system. fOOr prOuuCtlon mean
poor marketing.
Ideal Marketing Conditions
First, we may inquire, what woul
constitute an ideal marketing system
An ideal market for agricultural pr
ducts would exist, for instance, if e
actly one fifty-second part of the yea
ly crop were produced each wee
marketed each week, and consume
each week. and if the quantity an
quality were always the same and tt
demand remained constant, and Il
price remained the same, and If eaC
buyer paid cash.
There would then be no cred
problem. no storage problem, no gra
ing problem, and most significant
all, no price problem. Contrast tn
ideal situation with the real situati0
Using wheat as a typical crop, v
know that the worlds eaters of II
wheaton loaf need, on the averag
three and a half billion bushels
wheat per year. And, oddly enoug
this was actually the worlds crop
1914. But a year before that and Il
year after that the crop was half
billion bushels larger. And one ye
later. in 1916. the worlds crop was
4