PACKING A.\I> M AUKI.TI.\<; THE I'KACII 1117 



XKU.I.XI, 'I'D UKTAI LKK'S 



The regular Jersey basket is so well known that- we have not 

 found it a<lvisahle to use any other package. As we deliver our 

 fruit to the retailer, no cover is used and the baskets are well 

 tilled. This basket i< a very convenient one to pack, as fruit of 

 all sixes can readily be fitted to it and made solid, and the bas- 

 kets all packed equally full without spacing or breaking joints. 



The great bulk of our crop has been delivered direct to the 

 retailers, since we preferred to leave the distribution to them. \Ye 

 have made no special effort to sell to consumers direct, although 

 some of this trade came of itself, and has increased, particularly 

 at the orchard from auto calls. Parties in automobiles often came 

 much farther than we ever carried fruit. 



One method somewhat different has proved very satisfactory. 

 One of the towns mentioned was supplied with vegetables by an 

 extensive. market gardener nearby. During the peach season he 

 was not very busy, so he turned his attention to the sale of 

 peaches. The price was set by the grower, being governed by that 

 of other places, and the salesman received a set price per basket 

 for sales. This fruit was taken at the packing house by the sales- 

 man in. his own wagons. His customers being already established 

 through the vegetables, he could and did handle a large amount 

 of fruit continuously during nearly the whole season. There are 

 many places where this plan or some variation of it could be 

 carried out. 



Many growers in this state, small as well as extensive ones, sell 

 through commission houses, but others work through the retail 

 men. One orchard firm furnishes a large retailer who agrees to 

 handle the whole crop. The stock being largely of a fancy grade, 

 the house -has no trouble in disposing of it at good prices. The 

 average price received by growers who deal through the retailer 

 is certainly better than by the commission method. We have not 

 tried shipping through parcel post as other plans seem to fill our 

 requirements. 



Considering peach marketing from all points, for southern 

 Xew England at least, selling through the retailer seems to offer 

 the best opportunity to the grower whose orchard does not exceed 

 five thousand trees. 



