GATHERING^PACK'ING, AND SHIPPING. 141 



firmly in their places, even after there has been 

 some shrinkage of the fruit. This is all-important 

 when the fruit is to be transported a considerable 

 distance, and especially when transported by rail. 

 The box should now be marked with the number 

 of oranges and the brand of the fruit. 



In shipping, water transportation should be pre- 

 ferred to rail, especially during the first part of the 

 trip, as such transportation is not so apt to jar and 

 rub the fruit as rail. When the producer knows a 

 responsible merchant who will buy his fruit and sell 

 it by retail, it is better for him to make the arrange- 

 ment with him to furnish him oranges at a stipulated 

 price for each brand throughout the season. It 

 will lessen the expense of a commission to a third 

 party ; besides, commission merchants as a class 

 have not dealt fairly with the Florida fruit and veg- 

 etable grower. Bad packing, poor transportation, 

 and dishonest commission merchants have done 

 more to keep back the progress of Florida and dis- 

 courage fruit and vegetable growing than any other 

 three causes combined. And of the three the dis- 

 honest commission merchant has made himself the 

 largest but the lowest of these evils. There are 

 some honorable exceptions, and such should be 

 liberally patronized. But it is a vocation offering 

 such opportunities for rascality and such bribes for 

 dishonesty, it would be well for the producer to be 

 cautious as to whom he makes consignments. 



Transportation from Florida to the North and 



