The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-12-08

Il 1 IL. AtOllliiiiSelOI1i vi IhB Y
is hereby authorized and directed thru
such agents as he may appoint for
the purpose, and in cooperation with
such agricultural corporations or as
sociations as he deems proper, to in
yestigate the existing methods and
costs of marketing farm products and
purchasing farm supplies and to Sc
cure Improvement therein"
Under the broad provisions of this
law the work of improving market
conditions in Maine is being carried
out under four principal projects:
Wool Grading, Bookkeeping, Crop Re-
porting and Shipping Point lnspec-
lion.
In cooperation with the Maine Sheep
and Wool Growers Association, for
the past two years the Division or
Markets with the assistance of wool
classiiier from the Federal Bureau OF
Markets has graded according to u.
S. grades approximately $4,000 pounds
of Maine wool BY thus putting diff
ferent fleeces into their particular
grades the Maine wool grower Is hav-
ing his products manufactured into
suitings, blankets, yarn, etc. for direct,
sale to the consumer. Like all other
specialized products, the application
Of this principle to wool is enabling
the producer to realize more. profit
from his fleeces. Too much praise
cannot be given the Maine Sheep and
Wool Growers Association and its ex-
fecutive officers for establishing this
direct communication between the
producer and consumer.
BOOKKEEPING
+ Ever since the early days of the
: Grange in Maine cooperative buying
I ORGANIZATIONS have flourished to a
greater or less extent. In too many
instances failure has resulted, because
those interested have not adopted sys-
tematic methods for carrying on their
business, ascertaining the extent of
! their soverhead expenses and the
amount of net profit coming from the
daily turn over of stock. In order
to assist the local cooperatives I'M
guarding against these past failures,
the Division of Markets thru the as
sistan6e of the Federal Bureau of Mar
kets has developed a model system
of bookkeeping which is simple
enough to be CARRIED out completely
by even small cooperative concern.
AT. the same time 1t gives compre
A; hensive outline of the financial ,condi-.
ton of the business at any time. This
is an important and much appreciat-
ed project Of the Division as already
the present year ten locals have been
asssted in installing this System in
their business.
10 ~ CROP REPORTING
No commercial enterprise succeeds
unless the management has a clear j.,
idea of its probable sources of sup
plies and also the probable demand
for the commodities which it expects]
to sell More and more 1t Is becom-
ing known to farmers that the prices
which they will receive for their
crops depend largely on the quanti-
ties raised in this as well as foreign
countries. \ Accurate figures are dit
ficut to obtain, and for one state alone
to obtain this data would be an ex-
pensive job. For many states linked
together ii is comparatively easy
Therefore the Division of Markets in
cooperation with the New England
states and the Federal Bureau of Mar
kets and Crop Estimates Is furnishing
the best crop estimating service which
il is possible To obtain This ar )
rangement became effective July l Of
the present year. and since that time
all of the New England States have
come into the agreement, each state
furnishing $1,000 and the Federal Blu
reau paying more, than New England
states combined. AS the work pro-
crosses and accurate survey of apple
trees will be, made in the state which
will form the basis of more accurate
report on thsi important Maine crop.
SHIPPING POINT INSPECTION
- F'or, many years the Maine shipper
of potatoes and other farm products
in car lots has been absolutely at thel
mercy of the receiver on the other
end. In several western states an
inspection at the point of origin has J
been in operation to the advantage Of
the shippers, and safter discussing thel
possibilities of such q service in Maine
the potato shippers were strongly of
he opinion that the Division of Mar
Sets could help them materially in
his line. Consequently on Novem-
Der | r. d. Parsons began work at
'resque Isle and w. II. Crosby at
Ieutop, with service for the central ]
lart Of the state to be given direct ,
rom Augusta. BY this scheme the
d