71 



of the apples are disposed of. It permits of a rapid distri- 

 bution, a feature of more importance than is generally rec- 

 ognized. The moist and very often humid atmosphere, even 

 during the winter months, of Great Britiau, is rapidly de- 

 structive to the keeping properties of American apples, es- 

 pecially when fully ripened. Therefore, a quick disposal 

 and a wide distribution is vitally necessary. Auction sales 

 permit of this, an evidence of this fact is that steamers are 

 constanth^ arriving at Liverpool, carrying anywhere from 

 5.000 to 25,000 barrels of apples. In most cases, the apples 

 are landed, sold, and proceeds cabled out on the evening of 

 the fourth "day after the steamers commenced to discharge 

 their cargo. Shippers can confirm this statement by their 

 own experience time after time. Another marked advan- 

 tage that the auction sale has over any other method is, full 

 market values are more likely to be obtained where there is 

 a congregation of two to three hundred buyers, ready to 

 compete for anything or everything they want, than where 

 but a single buyer is being dealt with. Further, many 

 dealers specialize or cater for certain classes of trade; among 

 these two or three hundred buyers, there are a number of 

 these, always competing with each other for their different 

 grades and classes of fruit. Not only do dealers specialize, 

 but various interior markets will take some varieties and 

 grades that other markets do not want, or will not take. 

 For instance, there are four or five interior cities, which will 

 take Talman Sweets at a moderate price, if the supply is not 

 excessive. Other markets, quite as large, so far as the con- 

 suming population is concerned, will not take them at any 

 price. Some markets will take Golden Kussetts and pay 

 good prices, while other markets are blocked with a few. 

 Some markets consume large quantities of low grade fruit, 

 and other markets will take but a very small quantity : they 

 must have the finer grades, or none whatever. The forego- 

 ing will explain to those shippers who have divided up their 

 shipments among inland markets, why returns are almost 

 invariably lower than those realized from their shipments, 



