2 quarts, 4 quarts, 8 quarts, 14 quarts, 28 quarts, a half-bushel and a bushel. 

 The cost of baskets averages, for the 23 growers who report their use, about 

 26 cents a bushel. 



The one grower who reported sales in 2-quart baskets paid at the rate of 

 48 cents a bushel for these containers. Four-quart baskets cost an average 

 of 321/2 cents a bushel. Selling in baskets conlaining 14 quarts meant an 

 average expenditure of 23 cents a bushel for containers, while baskets holding 

 28 quarts cost an average of 17 cents a bushel. Baskets containing a bushel 

 ■ cost an average of 13 cents. 



One instance was found where the containers, "barrel crates," were the 

 propertj' of the buyer, who charged the grower 25 cents each for their use. 

 The grower had, however, provided storage space for these crates between 

 seasons, and for this service the buyer allowed hira 12^4 cents per crate. This 

 amounted to nearly 3 cents a bushel cash outlay for containers. 



The type of container most desirable seems to depend upon the grading 

 done. Ungraded apples are probably more suitably packed in barrels, while 

 graded fruit may better be packed in boxes. Baskets seem to be used for 

 retail trade particularly. 

 Selling Costs. 



The cost of selling varies greatly with the method of sale. The most ex- 

 pensive methods being, apparently, from door to door and at roadside mar- 

 kets, but accurate data as to these methods are very difficult to obtain. Quan- 

 tities thus sold vary from day to day with a consequent change in selling 

 costs per unit. 



Selling on commission is most commonly at a rate of 10 per cent of the 

 selling price, although exported apples are sold for 7 per cent commission, 

 and rates here run as high as 15 per cent. Sales in Worcester are reported 

 at 12^/2 per cent. The average cost of selling on commission was 19 cents 

 a bushel. 



The selling costs of 106 lots of apples sold varied from 4 cents to 90 cents 

 a bushel. The most common cost was 10 cents a bushel, 11 per cent of the 

 lots reported showing this selling cost. The average cost of all these lots 

 was 18 cents a bushel. 



There were in addition 36 lots, most often the entire crop, sold to buyers 

 who came to the door, relieving the grower of all selling costs except for the 

 time required to bargain with the buyer. For the purpose of this study, 

 there is no cost of selling included for the lots of apples so sold. 



The average selling costs on all lots reported, 142 in number, was nearly 

 14 cents a bushel, but this figure has little significance in view of the wide 

 variation in individual costs. The weighted average selling cost was 18.6 cents 

 per bushel. 

 Transportation. 



The cost of hauling from orchard to packing shed is most commonly about 

 2 cents a bushel, 34 per cent of the growers reporting this cost, while 77 per 

 cent report a charge of less than 5 cents a bushel for (his item. The highest 

 cost reported is I2V2 cents a bushel. 



More of the crop is hauled to market by truck and wagon than is shipped 

 by freight. The cost of hauling to market ranges from 3 cents to 33 1/3 cents. 

 The most common cost is 15 cents; 42 per cent of the growers report this 

 cost to be either 15 or 16 cents, while 39 per cent haid their apples to market 

 for less than 15 cents a bushel. 



The most common cost of delivei-y at the station is 5 cents a bushel, the 

 range being from 5 to 11 cents. 



Two-thirds of the growers use motor trucks, mostly privately owned, but 

 a few are hired. The average length of haul by truck is 20 miles, practically 

 always to market, though a few haul by truck to their railroad stations, de- 

 livery being thence made by freight. Wagons are used by the remainder of 

 the growers, and three report that they use both, depending upon the weather. 

 The average wagon haul is 4 miles and the haul is commonly to the station. 



