MARKETING 169 



the first day. The remaining heads are more or less 

 wilted by the second day, and they do not appeal to the 

 buyers, so that fewer sales are made on that day. The 

 lettuce is in much worse condition the third day, and the 

 day closes with a remnant so inferior that it cannot be 

 sold at all. The dealer, of course, is reluctant to buy 

 another barrel of lettuce until disposition has been made 

 of the previous lot. His sales and profits are diminished, 

 the consumer is disappointed, and the producer wonders 

 why his lettuce does not sell better. Had the small grocer 

 bought a bushel box or perhaps two half bushel baskets 

 of lettuce, there would have been no dissatisfaction at 

 any point from producer to consumer, because a fresh 

 lot of lettuce would be offered for sale every day. There 

 are good reasons, sometimes, for using barrels for the 

 shipment of lettuce, but the illustration applies to thou- 

 sands of stores where various kinds of greenhouse prod- 

 ucts are handled in packages that are too bulky for the 

 best results. 



The style or form of the package should have con- 

 sideration. Small baskets with handles always appeal to 

 buyers. Variously designed carriers are in use, which 

 seem to meet the demands of dealers. This subject will 

 be more fully discussed in connection with notes on the 

 marketing of each crop. 



The bushel box and other smaller wooden and paper 

 boxes and rectangular crates of various descriptions are 

 popular because they can be loaded solidly on wagons, 

 trucks and cars without any loss of space. It is a great 

 advantage to use uniform and standard types and sizes 

 in each community, and uniformity in this matter 

 throughout the country would be of inestimable benefit 

 to the vegetable-forcing industry. 



Preparation for market. Inasmuch as greenhouse prod- 

 ucts are usually of special quality and in many instances 

 easily bruised or damaged, it is necessary to handle them 

 with extreme care. They are taken promptly to the pack- 



