386 State Horticultural Society. 



give this particular item special attention ; five cents worth of labor in 

 packing means 25 cents more at sale. It then becomes the duty of the 

 officials of the association to make such disposition of the shipments of 

 the respective growers as will bring to them profitable results for their 

 productions. While the mode of disposing of shipments differs with some 

 associations, yet it is customary for the majority of them to ship on con- 

 signment (when f. o. b. sales cannot be made) to one or more commission 

 merchants in the various markets appointed by them prior to the open- 

 ing of the season. 



Here great precaution should be exercised. The individual shipper, 

 prior to becoming identified with the association, may have fallen into 

 the hands of bogus or irresponsible commission merchants, who quoted 

 high markets, and he received no returns for his products. Hence, we 

 say, the association should use the utmost precaution in its selection, as 

 the individual shipper expects them to remedy the above evil and looks 

 to them for protection. 



The commission merchant which the association selects should be 

 honest, should have the facilities for handling the shipments, and be 

 established in the commission business for a number of years, as he is 

 then capable of exercising the best of judgment (which is essential) ; also 

 be good salesmen, and when such qualities, combined with capital to 

 handle the business, are in the possession of individuals seeking trade, 

 the sooner the association gives them consignments and sticks to them 

 the sooner will the grower be rewarded for his labor, and confidence be 

 maintained between commission merchant and shipper. 



The commission merchants must treat with the growers and shippers 

 of this country as their commercial agents, employed by them to look 

 after their interest on the markets and to protect them in every way that 

 an agent does his employe. The future of the commission merchant de- 

 pends upon his honesty and the legitimate manner in which he may con- 

 duct his business. The future of the grower and shipper depends upon 

 the quality of his products and his honesty in packing. Commission 

 merchants alone cannot obtain all that is required to aid the producer in 

 profitably marketing his crop. They need the assistance and the support 

 of all who are handling perishable products, from the one who tills the 

 soil to the one who disposes of what is raised. All must join hands for 

 the purpose of obtaining the necessary results, and when all this has been 

 accomplished many evils have been overcome and the Agricultural, Horti- 

 cultural and Commission business will have been placed on a proper basis 

 and greatly improved. The foundation on which any improvement must 

 rest is a good understanding. Thoroughly good relations must first be 



