126 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY. 



Taking up the discussion of these papers, Mr. R. A. Burnett of Chicago, 

 said he had nothing to add to Mr. Barnett's defense of the commission 

 merchant. He highly complimented the intelligent interest taken by 

 fruitgrowers in their business, which seemed equal to that shown by 

 Chicago people in obtaining the world's fair. "While the commission of 

 ten per cent, may seem large," said Mr. Burnett, " it must be recollected 

 that the expense of a solicitor is $4 to $5 per day, and it costs six per cent, 

 to market the fruit after it is in Chicago. So, after paying the solicitor, 

 nothing is left, and that is why I quit the fruit business, or at least for 

 eight years have made no effort to secure fruit consignments. I do not say 

 others should not solicit, but for myself I have found the other plan the 

 better. Capital, credit, and character are, as Mr. Morrill says, the first 

 essentials in a commission merchant and grower. The commission 

 merchant has to work long hours and hard. I do not know of less than 

 ten per cent, being taken in the east, except on heavy products and large 

 lots. Merchants there can not afford to take less. Cartage should be 

 reduced to the minimum, but custom has established the rate charged. 

 Many lots are small, and now every depot and dock in the city has to be 

 watched. I do not keep a dray of my own, because when I did the horse, 

 dray, or something else was continually sick, broken, or otherwise out of 

 condition. I found it much more profitable not to do so. The drayman 

 has several rigs and so avoids these inconveniences and does the business 

 promptly and with few" mistakes. Last year the first efforts were made at 

 selling fruit at auction — California fruit. The system is growing in favor 

 and the sales will be better attended this year than they were last. But 

 Michigan fruit is more perishable and must be disposed of the same day it 

 is received. This w^ould work against the auction system, and small ship- 

 ments are another drawback. It is as easy to examine and determine the 

 character of a large lot as of a small one. In auction sales, small lots 

 would be likely to be ' lumped ' together and sold, and some of them be too 

 low and some too high. But I care to throw no cold water upon the 

 auction system. It may prove to be better than the commission plan." 

 Mr. Burnett spoke j)leasantly of Mr. Barnett, and commended him though 

 his next door neighbor and competitor. 



Mr. Morrill: It was with me only a matter of information as to the 

 rate of commission in New York, not of experience. Why does one dray- 

 man prosper at one cent per package though others charge two cents? I 

 do not believe commission men establish rates 100 per cent higher in one 

 case than another. They must divide with the draymen — or is it with the 

 shipper ? [ Laughter. ] 



Mr. Burnett: They do discriminate between "produce" and fruit by 

 100 per cent. 



Mr. Morrill: Is it necessary to have solicitors? 



Mr. Burnett : No, I think not. 



Mr. Morrill: AVhile we wish to weed out irresponsible commission 

 men, we wish also to be rid of the ec^ually bad shipper. I think about 

 three per cent, of the ten go to a man, the solicitor, of whom we have no 

 need. 



To this Mr. Burnett assented. 



Mr. Morrill: The matter of sales by auction will grow till we know 



