NEW YORK MARKET. 99 



stocked. If occasionally prices range low, or re- 

 ceipts from the sale of fruits are lessened by some 

 exceptional cause, we should not feel discouraged, 

 similar occurrences happen in all branches of trade. 

 There are but few merchants or manufacturers who 

 have not been compelled, at times, to sell their goods 

 below the actual cost. This does not dampen their 

 enthusiasm, it rather stimulates their efforts to make 

 up for bad seasons. 



The subjoined list of the prices per barrel, for 

 which pears were sold in the New York market in 

 1866, '67, '68, I obtained from a responsible fruit 

 merchant, who kindly placed his sales books within 

 my reach ; thus enabling me to get accurate data on 

 this important point. These figures also show the 

 comparative market value of the leading varieties of 

 pears for the last three years. It will be observed 

 that the prices for 1868 averaged higher than the 

 two preceding years. This was, in a measure, owing 

 to a partial failure, both of the peach and pear 

 crops, last season, in the Eastern States. "Where 

 there are three prices per barrel, opposite one variety, 

 such as 10 to $16 and $25, the first two apply 

 to the main crop, and the third, to choice fruit of 

 extra size, or else to a portion held back, until the 

 chief supply was out of market. 



