PROCEEDINGS OP THE ANNUAL MEETING. 213 



Some of the large eastern cities prefer the half-bushel packages, such 

 as Jersey peaches are shipped in. To such localities it would be better 

 to ship in half-bushel packages, for it is not the receptacle of the fruit, 

 but the peaches themselves, that we desire to market and prove supe- 

 rior. In small cities the half-bushel basket is not objected to and 

 can, therefore, be used for such points. 



And I will here state (though it is outside of our present subject) that 

 another of our fruits, the plum, is better shipped in half-bushel baskets, 

 no matter to what locality shipped. The past two years have absolutely 

 demonstrated the superiority of Michigan peaches, and I firmly believe 

 that the coming year will give us an enlarged market, with demands that 

 will be most flattering and satisfactory. 



BY MR. GEORGE W. BARNETT OF CHICAGO. 



The title of the subject assigned, me presupposes that the fruit has 

 been perfected and is ready for the market. As two other gentlemen 

 have papers under the same heading, and as they are in the fruitgrowing 

 district, I shall assume that the earlier phases of the question will be 

 discussed by them and confine myself to tracing the course of the 

 supplies after reaching this city, which may be considered typical of any 

 large market. 



The distribution of the supplies furnished by the fruitgrower, whether 

 direct or through the agency of others, has gradually become a complex 

 and complete sj'stem. Perhaps I ought not to use the term "complex", 

 as each step is well defined and, after all, simple, but I think but few 

 fruitgrowers have any idea of how complete it is, and to what distances 

 fruit is exported — the only limit being the cost and ability of the con- 

 sumer to pay prices commensurate with the necessary expenses and 

 risks. 



There are two routes by which consignments of fruits reach this city — 

 rail and lake. 



Practically all receipts are taken from the depots or docks to the 

 various places of business as early as practicable after the arrival of 

 the train or steamer. To make the matter clearer, let us illustrate bv 

 using letters in place of names. 



A, a shipper, consigns to B, his correspondent, a shipment of fruit. 

 On arrival, B has his spring wagons in waiting, and takes it to his place 

 of business on South Water street. There, with other lots of fruit of 

 different grades, qualities, and conditions, it is examined and offered for 

 sale. The largest, finest, and every-way-select lots are taken by the 

 retail grocers whose patronage is among the ''upper ten'', to whom money 

 is no object, apparently. The grade must be of the very best, quality 

 superior, and condition perfect. Less than five per cent, of the total 

 receipts meet the conditions exacted, so that the amount that can be 

 disposed of to this class of buyers is limited, and their requirements are 

 also about in the same proportion, so it can be readily seen that but 

 little can be expected in the way of fancy prices from that source. 



The next grade is of really good quality and good condition, so that 

 it can be handled with a reasonable degree of safety, and good for, 



