Watauga Democrat

At a county-wide meeting held in the courthouse here Saturday afternoon and attended by a large crowd of farmers, it was agreed that a plan of marketing the vegetables of Watauga, as explained to the assembly, was practical, and unanimous approval was given it.

The plan, briefly, is as follows: Andrews & Knowels. of Mount Olive, N. C., agree to handle potatoes, cabbage and beans in car lots, furnish an expert packer and shipper at this end of the line, ship to markets paying the best price, pay grower at least one-half of estimated price as produce is delivered, with settlement in full each calendar month during the shipping season.

This will be done on a 7 per cent. commission basis. The farmers will furnish their own bookkeeper and hire any common labor needed. Overhead expenses are expected to be very small.

The advantages of this plan are obvious. It will give a large wholesale market which can amply handle the enormous quantity of produce that will be grown: otherwise county growers would likely cause a congestion of nearby markets that would cause disastrously low prices.

Andrews & Knowels have more than twenty years of successful business with leading markets of the North and South, and are in position to handle more than twenty cars a day. Farmers in every section of the county are signing contracts to sell their products this year through the new combine, which is known as the Mountain Growers Exchange.

Farmers who do not understand details of the plan are asked to see one of those who attended Saturday's meeting. and have it explained fully. If it meets their approval they are urged to sign one of the little printed contracts which have been distributed over the county. If one of them can't be procured handily, see or write Smith Hagaman or call at the Watauga County Bank, where a supply is kept.

It will be determined within the next few weeks whether or not the plan is successful. The volume must be of sufficient size to merit the approval of the brokers before they will consider handling it. The matter is left up to the farmer entirely, and it is requested that they make up their minds as early as possible.