394 BOARD OF AGRICULTURIil. [Pub. Doc. 



western States for the growers to sell the crop on the trees. 

 This practice has rapidly gained ground in Massachusetts. 

 The buyer comes to the orchard, and either pays a lump sum 

 for the entire crop, or else pays a stipulated price per barrel. 

 In the latter case the price is, say, $1.50 for the best grade 

 and $1 for the second grade, the grading being done by the 

 buyer. This method has considerable advantages for the 

 men who are not in close touch with apple markets, or who 

 are not experienced in grading and packing fruit. It relieves 

 the grower immediately of the two great responsibilities — 

 grading and selling. 



(3 ) On Oommission. — One of the best recognized methods 

 of selling is that of shipping the fruit on commission. When 

 the barrels or boxes are ready, they are put in the hands of 

 commission men, usually in one of the large city markets. 

 The commission man sells them for what he can get, and 

 returns the amount to the grower minus the commission and 

 any charges for freight, cartage, storage, etc. There are 

 many disadvantages to this system, and much fault has been 

 found with it ; but, on the whole, it is the best method for 

 a large number of growers. If a reliable commission house 

 is selected, and if the shipper is careful and honest on his 

 side of the transaction, good results may be expected. 

 Most of the cursing against connnission men comes from 

 shippers Avho have tried to cheat them. 



(4) On Joint Account. — This is a new method of selling, 

 and not often adopted. According to this method, the gi'ower 

 turns over his fruit to the seller at picking time, receiving a 

 stipulated amount in cash down. This is considerably less 

 than the value of the fruit, say $1 a barrel. The fruit is 

 then held by the seller, and disposed of at his option. At 

 the close of the season, when the fruit is all sold, the shipper 

 and seller have a final settlement. From the gross amounts 

 of the sales there is deducted first the advance payment 

 made to the shipper ; then the storage, freight and other 

 charges are subtracted ; the balance is finally divided equally 

 between the apple grower and the apple seller. In every 

 instance which has come to our notice this method has 

 worked very well. 



