196 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



the keeping of fruit as regards picking and handling? Some 

 pickers think ventilation necessary. 



Mr, Periam — You can ship perishable fruits any long 

 distance without first cooling them, but dealers tell me that 

 the berries that are not cooled are apt to come in a mushy 

 condition. I consider it bad to allow a current of air to 

 draw through the boxes. 



H. C. Adams — I should like to ask if there is any 

 hope in the Chicago market for a man who raises first-class 

 fruit and puts his own name on the boxes to go right 

 through the season, and get a fair, remunerative price 

 for it? 



. Mr. Periam — Yes, there is no doubt about it. The late 

 Dr. Hull, who was for years a resident of the state of Illinois, 

 and a very careful fruit grower, became displeased with the 

 prices he got for his fruits. They were exceedingly fine. 

 He came to Chicago and sold his own fruits. He practiced 

 that for three years, and after the first year he never had a 

 package opened. It went as a matter of course. Even my 

 friend Mr. Adams, if he will be honest and ship his fruits 

 in good condition for the first few packages, can secure a 

 certain market. 



H. C. Adams— That is encouraging. 



Pres. J. M. Smith — There is no doubt but what a person's 

 reputation is worth a good deal to him in selling fruit and 

 vegetables. A number of years ago I was in a commission 

 house that I had dealt with a number of years. A drum- 

 mer came into the store, and I was in the back part of the 

 room. He was trying to sell the merchant new goods, and 

 the merchant objected to buying them on account of their 

 not being known. The drummer was arguing that the 

 goods were all right and that it would make no difference. 

 I was standing where I could hear what was said, and I 

 heard the merchant say, " do you see that man in the back 

 end of the store ? He is a large gardener and we have 

 bought a great many goods of him. If my customers only 

 know that I send them fruits from his garden it is all right. 

 They know they will be good." I thought that was one of 

 the finest compliments I ever received. Whenever I ship- 



