94 PEACH CULTURE. 



Since this was written the railroad management naa 

 made some concessions, and transportation by water to 

 New York has ceased. It is still continued from some 

 localities to Baltimore and Philadelphia. 



The route and line by which to ship the fruit, what- 

 ever they may be, should be selected as early as conven- 

 ient, that is, as soon as all the accessible information can 

 be obtained. The next thing to be looked after, is the 

 engagement of the requisite number of cars or boats, and 

 to arrange the time of their departure and arrival. 

 Peaches are perishable, and it will not do to leave their 

 transportation to the opportunities or contingencies of the 

 hour. A complete running schedule must be fixed upon, 

 and must be run with certainty, or the shipper may sul- 

 fer great loss during the season. Punctual and early 

 arrival is of the highest importance to growers and ship- 

 pers. The early market is always the best. Buyers can- 

 not safely wait for late receipts, and will not. The con- 

 sequence is that the same quality and quantity of fruit 

 will bring twenty per cent more at five o'clock in the 

 morning than two hours later. 



Beginning with 1884 a new and direct trade has grown 

 up with "Western and Northern cities. Buyers from 

 these come to the principal shipping points, buy the 

 fruit from the producers, and ship it to their home 

 markets. The method is to load a car to its full ca- 

 pacity, lock it up, and dispatch it to the respective con- 

 signees. The fruit and baskets go together, and the 

 latter are never returned. The railroads make specia. 

 terms, and necessarily fast time. This manner of mar- 

 keting has been found by far the most satisfactory. The 

 buyers see the fruit before it is loaded or bought, and 

 know exactly what it is ; the seller gets his money at 

 home without risk, delay, or deduction for freight or 

 commissions. And, as the baskets are sold with the 

 fruit, all irritating complaints and contentions about 

 them are avoided. 



