Discussion. 195 



down in handling. There is only one more thing to add: 

 Do not change your commission man lightly. Once your 

 reputation is made it is the policy of any man to hold it. 

 With every new agent your reputation is more or less new. 

 The old agent, if honest and well known, can do better by 

 you than any other. Nevertheless, all are eager to get 

 consignments from men whose good reputation meets the 

 buyer more than half way. The regular buyer seldom opens 

 the packages of men who have made a reputation for honest 

 measure and honest goods. 



DISCUSSION. 



H. C. Adams — I have been very much interested in 

 that paper, and I think we ought to have an opportunity to 

 ask some questions. It is a vital subject. He says there 

 are three requisites necessary in sending fruit to the Chi- 

 cago market. First is quality. Does that mean size or 

 color? 



Mr. Periam — It means that state of ripeness when picked 

 by which they will reach the city in their best condition. 

 Next it means size, and that among certain growers means 

 quality. 



H. C. Adams — Next is uniformity, and the next is the 

 name of the man who grows them. How much is that 

 worth? Suppose I sent in fruit of the best quality and put 

 some man's name on it like Mr. Peflfer or Mr. Kellogg. 

 Would that damage the fruit in ihe market irretrievably? 



Mr. Periam — I do not think any package that had Father 

 Peflfer's name on it would be hurt very much for a respect- 

 able commission man, and neither a package that had Mr. 

 Kellogg's name on. 



I want to say that the shipping of inferior fruits with sup- 

 erior fruits ought never to be done when it comes to straw- 

 berries and raspberries. With cranberries and huckleberries 

 it is less injurious; but the uniformity of size in strawber- 

 ries especially, is what sells them. 



A. L. Hatch — Can you give us any information as to 



