PilOCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING 29 



SO great confidence as used to prevail, and less enthusiasm manifested 

 among vinevardists and those seeking to engage in this industry than 

 there was years ago, still grape-growers are not entirely discouraged. 

 They look at the business through a revised medium. They realize 

 that the fruit must be grown cheaply, transported cheaply, and sold 

 cheaply; that is, that a portion of the receipts for sales must be sent 

 to the producer and not be all taken up by the ti-ansporter and seller. 



The transportation companies have come down a good deal, and seem 

 amenable to further pressure; but it remains to reach the men who sell 

 the fruit, the commission men, who still seem averse to relinquish the 

 habit they have acquired of retaining the lion's share of the proceeds 

 of sales. Some missionary work is needed among this class. Legal 

 appliances or a radical tearing up and change in the whole system is 

 in order. As the man on the raft said when in deep water and his pole 

 would not reach bottom, "Something must be done." 



It is certain that the growing of grapes for market will continue to 

 remain an important fruit industry in this state. There is no fruit 

 more bountiful, more healthful, more desirable in its season, and no 

 fruit that under proper conditions will more munificently reward the 

 cultivator for his care and labor. The occupation has its aesthetic, 

 its sentimental, side as well as practical and pecuniary. But it is not 

 to be expected that everyone will betake himself to planting a vineyard. 

 It is desirable, however, 'that enough should be raised to fully supply all 

 markets, and that every garden should be provided with a few grape 

 vines.' There is certainly no reason in the world why every farmstead, 

 every village home that possesses a garden, should not be supplied with 

 a few choice vines properly trained and cared for. It is neglecting one 

 of the choicest gifts of Providence in refusing to avail ourselves of the 

 ■enjoyment of the choicest blessings that he has allotted to us. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Barnett: I would like to ask the essayist, Mr. Law^ton, just what 

 he expects the commission man to do, because he has given him a kind 

 of dig, as usual (it is common, you know); what compensation he receives 

 for selling grapes and what is expected for that compensation, taking 

 last year as a basis, which was unprofitable, and whether he thinks the 

 compensation was excessive. I think the paper will bear that ques- 

 tion. 



Mr. Lawton: What I expect is that the commission man will sell 

 the fruit on its merits and return to the producer what belongs to him, 

 reserving his commission for selling, whatever is agreed upon — if it is ten 

 per cent, all right; but I want him, if I put up good fruit, superior fruit, 

 put it up well, take all the pains in the world cultivating it and producing 

 good fruit, and pack it well, to sell it on its merits. I do not want him 

 to return the same price that he does to somebody who puts up inferior 

 fruit. I want the fruit sold on its merits and the ])roducer to receive 

 the reward of its merit, the commission man to receive all that he is 

 entitled to, and to return to the producer what belongs to him. Com- 

 plaint to the contrary of all this is sometimes made. T have not entered 



