The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-05
J /. ! POOLING
gNNGREASE IN
WEST VIRGINIA
Organized Selling Will Be
Part Of Plan This
Year

MoRGANTowN. w. Va, Sept.
l5.-The fifteen thousand farmer.
members Of the West Virginia
Farm Bureau Federation are so
we'll satisfied with last years CO.
Operative marketing Of wool, the
handling Of fertilizer direct for
the entire state and the pooling
OF potatoes, that this year is go
ing to see a great increase in the
scope OF this cooperative market
ing service. "A heavy wool pool
is expected, at least million
pounds being expected. Orders
are rolling In from many counties
for fertilizer, more than 500 tons
being ordered this week. Several
thousand tons win be handled all
told. The handling OF potatoes IS
being greatly expanded and is
worth a special attention.
Not only will such counties as
Randolph, Upshur, Preston,
Wood, Tue er and others probab-
~ pool the major part OF Their
crop, but steps will be taken to
sell these potatoes through the
farm bureaus OF counties that are
not producing sufficient potatoes
to meet all tho local needs. Thoret
would be a small cost fixed by
each farm bureau to meet the ex.
penses of this work. Just what
counties will definitely help sell
the potatoes from other sections
is uncertain, but the marketing
organizations of the Ohio, Harri.
ron, Marion and MonongaIia coun.
ty farm bureaus are preparing to
give the idea special considera-
ton and from advance informa-
ton 1t seems certain that the mar.
keting work will be thus extended.
The next big venture is that in
to the coal field. Not only will
the farmers of dozen or more
counties of West Virginia pool
their coal orders and buy direct
from the mines OF this state, but
the marketing division of the
West Virginia Farm Bureau Fed.
Grafton is acting as the agent
through which a number of the
western states farmers organize.
ton will buy their coal. Several
thousand car loads will be handl.
ed in this manner. according to
the secretary, J.. B. LaughIin.
This is expected to mean a direct.
saving Of several hundred thous.
and dollars The state federation
will charge small fee to take
care Of the expenses OF handling
the coal orders.
Announcements were mailed out
last week of the next logical step
towards eliminating the middle.
man, where he is not found essen.
tial to the life of the farmers.
This is the securing Of agencies
from various manufacturers and
wholesalers for materials needed
on farms, so that there may be.
returned a patronage dividend"
to farm bureau members, after the
cost Of handling the materials has
been deducted. Farmers who are
not members will be sold the
same materials, but they will not
receive the refund that goes to
the farm bureau members. The
materials that have already been
listed include almost all kinds Of
seeds, salt, wire fencing, steel
crates. tankage and probably
other, feeds, Indicating oils, cup
grease, kerosene and gasoline,
harness, incubators and other
poultry supplies, electric light and
flower plants, force pumps, and
water suppl ysystems, potato dig.
gers. graders, cutters, planters and
sprayers, paints, varnishes and so
on. Either broken lots or carload
shipments. can be handled in many
case. =
E