Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-13
Grange Blazed Way
Continued from Page One)

Ing or these rODlemS.
In his public address Secretary
Jardne said: Farmers should mar
ket their major crops through their
organizations, insuring the placing
of crops on the market at the right
time and insuring that the sellers
the farmers themselves-shall have
equal power with the buyers in deal
ing with the market.
The farmer in the past has sold
on the buyers market. 1t Is his
right as a seller to have equal power
with the buyer"
He paid q tribute to the Grange
as having been largely responsible
for the present cooperative market
ing movement. The great contribu-
ton of the Grange to cooperation,
however, was not in the promotion
merely of cooperation enterprises,
he said. but in the fact that it did
much of the early educational work
necessary for sound cooperation.
The members were entertained
with a concert by the United Music
Clubs of the city this evening.
George r. Harrison, master Of the
California State Grange, and Mrs.
Harrison, travelling ALL miles, In
Guiding a side trip to New Orleans,
were believed to have covered g.
greater distance than any other dele
gates.
Secretary Jardine said:
1--WE are meeting today" he said,
lin the midst of an agricultural sit
uation which will be peculiarly bene-
fitted by the constructive efforts
characteristic of the Grange. Farm
conditions are gradually improving.
The primary need is for steady, con-
tinued Improvement, for a long time
policy which will insure a consistent
ly prosperous agriculture, a self-re-
liant personnel on American farms,
and satisfying rural life.
In general, the agricultural situa-
ton is better than in any year since
1920. -"
Taking agriculture as a whole. the
crop year 1925-26 showed an approx
mate net return on the value of the
capital invested in agriculture of AS
per cent. This compares with 81
per cent in the crop year 1929 and
six tenths of l per cent in the crop
year 1920-21.
1.-The results that have been
achieved are due largely to the in
telligence, energy and determination
of the farmers themselves, qualities
which the members of an organiza-
ton such as yours especially appre-
ciate, since you have empha sized
their Importance for many years. In
the years following the depression,
farmers have curtailed over-produc-
ton. have sought to bring their prin-
cipal enterprises into profitable bal
anee. have improved the quality of
their output, and have regulated to
better qhVo ntoOn tho of
agricultural products to market.
In spite Of this gradual improve
ment one must remember that farm
ers are still trying to work out from
under burden Of debt and reduced
buying power. There remains q dis
parity between the prices Of farm
products and the prices of Industrial
goods and services. -
The present situation, except as to
cotton, presents not SO much an
emergency problem as a group of
problems requiring constructive
plans to cover a long period. The
history OF the Grange shows a record
OF particular success in dealing with
such problems. The Grange has never
been disheartened by temporary set
backs. Nor has it been ready to
ADOPT plans of temporary spectacular
appear IN lieu of programs perhaps
more difficult to inaugurate. but
promising larger results in economic
benefit and personal satisfaction.
Rural mail delivery, the parcel post,
the establishment of the Department
or Agriculture, the founding of agri-
cultural colleges, the creation of ex-
pertinent stations, the development of
good roads, conservation of natural
resources-all these accomplishments
We're carried through in large meas
IRE by the consistent efforts of the
Grange over long periods of time.
These have meant much in putting
farming and the farmer on a sound
basis. .
Marketing is a comparatively new
problem In agriculture. It has devel-
oped as life has become more COM
pick, as the farm has become less
sen sustaining. as inventions have
come into use. as industry has be-
come extensive. and as advertising
and other modern methods have
created in the public mind special
tastes and demands. From the plant
ing of the crop itself, therefore, the
farmers problem today is not SIM
ply problem of production alone.
but a problem of production to meet
the effective demand of the market
IN the most economical way, and
then Of feeding the products on to
the market in such a manner as TO
eliminate the peaks of over supply
and the valleys of deficiency. In
production. therefore, the first step is
to ascertain the quantity and quality
OF the market demands.
The second problem is to produce
the requisite quantity and quality at
as low unit cost as possible. With
IA million farms in the United
States the problem of getting infor-
nation as to effective market de-
mand cannot well be hasdled by indi-
vldual farmers. AS / shall point out
later. 1t requires organization.
Quality production and economical
costs, however, are largely concerns
of the individual farmer. There are
farmers who with little or no addi-
tional cost produce wheat the pro-
te1n content of which brings a sub
stantial premium on the market. Cot
producing areas show a variation
from less than 100 pounds of low
quality cotton to 900 and 400 pounds
of high quality cotton per acre.
Statistics on milk records in the
State of New York show an income
over cost of feed of S31 per COW
yielding 5000 pounds of milk up to
$l39 per COW yielding 5000 pounds.
If / were in the dairy business |
would rather care for ten 5000 pound
cows than for forty 5000 pound
cows. They would require much less
labor and only one-forth as much
stable room.
The effect of reimbursement of
supply and demand on price is
amazing to one who h $ not studied
the relationships that here exist. For
example, in 1924 the potato crop Of
the United States was $4,000. 900
bushels. New York potatoes brought