211 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



say, twenty-four hours' transit to other points, or to be handled safely 

 by the average retail grocer who supplies the well-to-do classes. 



The competition for this class of fruit is the greatest, and often a 

 sale turns on the condition only, the shipper often turning from a good 

 line of fruit and accepting something not so desirable in quality, to 

 secure that which will reach his customers in good condition. It is 

 very much better to have a medium grade of quality in good condition 

 than a fanc}' line of fruit as to flavor, size, etc., worthless on account of 

 deca3\ 



That fruit which lacks the carrying qualities desired b.y the shipper 

 is just right for the retail dealer, and as a rule will class good to choice, 

 and is readily taken. 



There is then left the inferior, both as to quality and condition. For 

 these, bu^^ers are found among the grocery keepers in the poorer sec- 

 tions of the city — among the foreign populations. They are good judges 

 of fruit, and buy to meet the wants of their customers. With them, also, 

 there are the peddlers,, a numerous class and an influential one, whose 

 trade is necessary in handling large receipts. These latter also use the 

 refuse, the ''off condition" of all grades, and the poorest qualities that 

 arrive, or that become in poor condition after arrival, as well as a 

 respectable portion of the better grades, for they sometimes carry a very 

 good quality of fruit. 



Let us trace these different classes a little further, bearing in mind 

 carefully that there is no arbitrary grading, the perishable qualities of 

 fruit at times making the "fancy" of 5 a. m. "peddlers' stock" at 5 p. m. 

 Let us suppose C is a retail dealer having the best patronage. He 

 selects what he needs (carefully paying no more than he can help — 

 which remark also applies to all) and no more, has it set aside, and sends 

 his wagon for it as soon as he has completed his purchases. Arriving 

 at his store, it is temptingly displayed to catch the eye, and from his 

 stock he fills his orders, taken often without the price being named in 

 advance, quality being the chief requirement, sends to his customer, 

 and charges it up to his account. The transaction is completed — all 

 but collecting the bill. Many pay; many do not, and during the last 

 thirty years, of all I have known in the strictl}' fancy trade, less than 

 a dozen have earned a competence. But little net profit remains with 

 them. 



The retail dealer, D, who supplied the middle classes, with a fair [)ro- 

 portion of the well to do, loads his purchase into his wagon, and at once 

 goes home to be ready for dinner (noon), placing a moderate advance on 

 his purchase price as his selling figure. He sells for cash if he can, 

 or to his "book" customers at practically the same figure. 



He delivers to his customer's home, if desired, but the bulk of it is 

 taken at the time of purchase, and he clears out his stock as closely as 

 possible. The advance charged by the retailer for his labor of S(dG'-Ting, 

 selling, delivering, and collecting his accounts may be i-oughl,^ estimated 

 at 2 cents per box on small fruits, and 2 cents per basket on x)eaches and 

 5 cents per peck on apples. This must cover the loss by decay, sampling, 

 etc., inevitable to the retail trade. 



At times, when fruit is scarce, the profit charged will be larger, and 

 when abundant, less. Sometimes a run is made, and a single dealer will 



