72 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. 



while bananas are rated third class and have a still lower tariff. At the 

 same time many of these fruits are selling for a higher price than peaches 

 and there is not the least difficulty in getting the minimum amount into 

 a car, namely, 20,000 lbs., or 400 bushels. A very little figuring shows 

 what an immense difference there is between these rates. Suppose, for 

 instance, that the whole Michigan product were to be shipped to Boston 

 where there is just flOO.OO difference in rates per car, 2,500,000 bughels 

 would make 6,250 cars; this at flOO.OO per car means |625,000; but 

 this does not represent that much loss to the railroads, for at the present 

 rate we cannot put our peaches in that market to any extent. 



These statements will naturally call forth two questions, viz., if rates 

 are lower on peaches in crates why not use them? Second, you suc- 

 ceeded in getting a reduction from the Central Association, why not from 

 the Eastern as well? In answer to the first, every country or section 

 has a particular style of package. Thus, California has her box, Georgia 

 the six basket crate, New Jersey and Delaware the tall straight basket, 

 and Michigan the Climax 1-5 and 1-2 bushel baskets, and the standard 

 bushel basket almost universally used in this section. And to each state 

 or section the package or basket becomes a sout of trade-mark, which is 

 of great value, and it would be almost if not quite impossible to induce 

 the growers and shippers to abandon their use. As to the second point, 

 a reduction of rates in the Eastern district would not only let our 

 peaches in their markets but it would at the same time open up our mar- 

 kets to the New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland product, and it is a 

 serious question as to which is better. I am inclined to believe that the 

 quality of the Michigan product will enable it to successfully compete 

 with eastern fruit in any market, and that it would be to our advantage 

 to extend our market as far as possible eastward, but in order to do this 

 successfully the Michigan grower must adopt better methods of packing 

 and grading; in fact, our slipshod way of marketing peaches without 

 grading as to size has already done us much harm in the eastern market, 

 and only the splendid quality and flavor of our fruit has saved us. 



METHODS OP MARKETING. 



Now on the methods or systems of marketing fruit, there is so much 

 to be said that I hardly know where to begin. The one most popular 

 perhaps throughout the State is by consignment; in fact, until recently 

 and even now outside of Kent county this has been almost the universal 

 way in which peaches were marketed, and the system, while having some 

 advantages, has taken a great deal of money out of the State which 

 should have stayed here, has made a great many rascals wealthy, and 

 in effect put a premium on dishonesty. On the other hand this system 

 gives the grower the least possible trouble. All he has to do is to pack 

 up his fruit and put it aboard the cars or boat, and in a day or two Jie 

 gets his returns and what money his consignee may see fit to send him. 

 The grower is not bothered with making bargains, looking up markets, 

 keeping accounts or any thing of the kind. Besides there is that ele- 

 ment of uncertainty about it that appeals so strongly to the average 

 mind. Be. that as it may, after once getting into the habit or custom of 



