2o6 State Horticultural Society. 



enough men in our local associations who have the time, the energy, 

 and the ability to properly attend to this, then we had better select 

 some men, or an organization of men outside of our local associations, 

 who are capable and honest and whose interests are closely identified 

 with our own, and let them handle the crop. This would not be 

 altogether an experiment for it proved to be a great success in the 

 marketing of last year's peach crop. There is, in my opinion, only 

 one rational and satisfactory method of disposing of the crop, and 

 that is to get it all under one head and sell it on track for cash. This 

 can be largely done if we get together. 



SELL BERRIES ON TRACK. 



When commission men buy on track, they will not overcrowd 

 their markets for the simple reason that their money is invested, and 

 they will protect it as far as possible. If one firm in the market is 

 buying on track and another getting goods on consignment, the 

 fellow with the consignment is very apt to use the consigned goods 

 as a club to make war on his neighbor who is paying cash. He doesn't 

 lose anything on the deal, for the grower is furnishing the ammunition 

 and yet he gets hurt on both sides. For on the consigned goods the 

 returns are too low and the commission man who has been buying 

 on track soon gets enough of the punishment and he is then looking 

 for a very low price himself, or, he stops buying altogether and takes 

 his chances on consignments to make up his loss and provide him with 

 the necessary iunds for a visit to the seashore later in the season. 

 Commercial strawberry growers need lots of money and need it right 

 now. For this reason cash sales are much more desirable than con- 

 signments. There is no question in the mind of a veteran grower 

 that returns from consignments are usually slow, and the slower 

 they are the smaller they are. In fact, I have seen them so slow 

 that the gi^ower only got tlie commission. When they get slower 

 than this the grower is politely asked to lose his berries altogether 

 and help pay the freight. If we get together and protect the com- 

 mission man who is willing to buy, give him an honest package, and 

 stop sending consignments to his market, we can succeed in market- 

 ing our crop for a profit. If we continue to act separately there is 

 only one chance of success, and that is a short crop. Let's lay down 

 petty jealousies and all get together. If we can't do so in one way, 

 let's do so in another, but by all means let's get together. 



