262 TEANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUBAL 



rightfully belongs to him after deducting proper commissions and 

 expenses, then the question of marketing would become a much 

 more easy one, but commission men (I'll not say all, but a great 

 many), are so prone to figure their commissions at the Dutchman's 

 one per cent, that the poor shipper generally can't hold out until he 

 finds the honest one, but like the old horse, put on a barrel stave 

 diet, plays out getting used to it. Now I know of no remedy for 

 this except that shippers should compare notes at their annual meet- 

 ings, and elsewhere, and when they find such as have treated them 

 honestly, after a long series of dealings, patronize such men only. 

 This plan might not be perfection itself, as even the once honest 

 ones, overcome by their surroundings, might fall; but then it is well 

 enough to try them until you find them going through your pockets; 

 then quit. 



The rigid assorting of fruit, at packing, rejecting all inferior or 

 decayed specimens, is the only possible way in which we can hope to 

 realize good or remunerative prices in this era of competitive strife. 

 If shipments of such fruit are made with the shippers name plainly 

 stenciled upon the package, you will be surprised to see how soon 

 you will establish for yourself such a name that your fruit will not 

 be reported back ''carried over" or "spoiled,'" but, on the contrary 

 you will be advised to ship as much and rapidly as possible, as "your 

 fruit is all sold to arrive," provided always that your consignee is an 

 honest man. The question of packages has now been pretty well 

 solved, and the cheap veneer boxes and baskets seen on the market 

 stands every day, is the evidence of their adaptability and convenience 

 to both grower and consumer. There has been some disposition to 

 condemn their frailty, and rightfully too, on account of the careless 

 manner in which some of them are put together. This is not the 

 fault of the material, however, and after a few losses from this 

 source the builder will be apt to correct his errors and build more 

 carefully and strongly. " He who causes two blades of grass to grow 

 where but one grew before is a public benefactor," but he that puts 

 two nails into a fruit package where he was in the habit of putting 

 but one before, will soon discover that he is a benefactor unto himself. 



Where so much has been spoken and written relating to the 

 growing of fruits, it would seem like folly for me to attempt to 

 eniighten the growers of Northern Illinois upon the subject. I 

 know of no new methods other than those already being tested. The 

 insect scourge is to my mind the most important question that pre- 

 sents itself to the fruit growers of to-day; it is monumental in its 

 importance and, if means are not soon devised for checking it, I fear 

 the days of successful and profitable fruit-growing in Illinois are 

 numbered. I can see but one way to overcome it, and that is through 

 concerted action and legislative enactment of laws; laws that will 

 compel the owners to either cut down or destroy their trees aud 



