6 



net returns on the 1,030 bushels sold was $3,320, and the 

 average net return per bushel was $3.23. The cost of selling 

 was 10 per cent of the selling price. 



The stand is operated by the Highland Co-operative Fruit 

 Exchange. The members are a group of 25 farmers, living in 

 Marlborough and Hudson. The stand is located about a mile 

 from Marlborough, on the main Boston & Worcester road. 

 It is run and managed by the manager of the exchange. Only 

 products grown by the members are sold on the stand. Each 

 grower pays 12 per cent on his products sold. The exchange is 

 a stock company, so that if it proves a success, each member 

 will benefit from the dividends. The policy of the exchange is 

 to give the buying public an opportunity to buy fresh farm 

 products at less than the retail price in the cities. We do not 

 believe in profiteering, but by charging fair prices expect our 

 patrons to become steady customers. This policy has already 

 proved its A^alue, as we now have many regular customers 

 who buy every week or so. A satisfied customer will tell his 

 friends about us, so that we are constantly increasing our regular 

 trade. 



Apples are sold by the basket and by the bushel, peck or 

 quart. Fancy apples can also be bought singly or by the dozen. 

 All the apples, except those in the basket, are weighed out and 

 sold in paper bags, unless the purchaser takes a whole bushel, 

 when an additional charge of 25 cents is made for the box. 

 The exchange furnishes the paper bags, so that the grower has 

 no additional expense for containers, except for the baskets. 

 When sold in baskets the fruit is sold at a high enough price 

 to cover the expense of the container. 



From this orchard the same varieties have been sold on the 

 stand as on the Boston market. In computing the number of 

 bushels sold, 8 baskets or 150 single apples are figured as equal 

 to 1 bushel. The following are the amounts of each kind sold 

 on the stand: Red Astrachans, 108 bushels; Gravensteins, 

 34 bushels; Wealthy, 20 bushels; and Mcintosh, 261 bushels. 

 The cost of grading is the same whether sold on commission 

 or on the stand. I have done my own hauling to the stand, 

 using a Ford truck. It is impossible to figure the exact cost of 

 hauling, as many times only a partial load is hauled. However, 



