Fourth:  A modification of the above scheme is the case in which the produce buyer is on a salary and in the employment of the merchants.  This scheme has been successfully carried into effect in some Nebraska towns.  It may be the ultimate solution of the egg buying in the West.  It eliminates the temptation of the buyer to use his privilege of monopoly to fatten his own pocket-book.  The weakness of the plan is that a salaried man’s efficiency in the close bargaining necessary to sell the goods is inferior to that of the man trading for himself.  Other difficulties are:  Getting a group of merchants who will live up to such an agreement; the farmers object to driving to two places; the competition of other towns; the merchants’ realization that, the farmer with cash in his pocket or a check good at all stores, is not as certain a trader as one standing, egg basket on arm, before the counter; and last, and most convincing, the merchant’s further realization that any fine Saturday morning, with eggs selling at fifteen cents at the produce house, he may stick out a card “Sixteen Cents Paid for Eggs” and make more money in one day than his competitors did all week.

Fifth:  Co-operative egg buying by the farmers themselves.  This has been discussed in a previous chapter.  It is all right in localities where the business is big enough to warrant it and the farmers are intelligent and enthusiastic to back it up and stick to it.

The High Grade Egg Business.

There are many excellent opportunities for men of moderate capital and ability in the high grade egg trade.  The produce business on its present line, either at the country end or at the city end, is as open as any well-known form of business enterprise can be.  The chances of success for a man new to the trade will be better, however, if he can find a niche in the business where he may crowd in and establish himself before the old firms realize what is up.  The proposition of buying high grade eggs from producers and selling direct to consumers is a proposition of this kind.

The little game of existence is chiefly one of apeing our betters and strutting before the lesser members of the flock.  The large cities are full of people in search of some way to display their superior wealth, taste and exclusiveness.  If an ingenious dealer takes a dozen eggs from common candled stock, places them in a blue lined box and labels them “Exquisite Ovarian Deposital,” he can sell quite a few of them at a long price, but the game has its limits.  Now, let this man secure a truly high grade article from reliable producers, teach his customers the points that actually distinguish his eggs from common stock, and he can get not only the sucker trade above referred to but a more satisfactory and permanent trade from that class of people who are willing to pay for genuine superiority but whose ears have not quite grown through their hats.