168 MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 



dress for labelling the boxes, and in various ways make 

 it convenient for the grower to patronize them. They 

 never offer to quote any price or to advance cash for 

 orders but always solicit shipments to be made direct to 

 the commission house. 



The grower picks and packs his fruit according to the 

 methods in use in his particular locality and places the 

 address of the house on the packages, takes them to the 

 railroad and sends them off. In a day or two after the 

 goods are sent the grower should receive a card of 

 acknowledgment from the commission man and then, 

 a little later, after the goods are sold, he receives a bill 

 of sale. Where this bill of sale is properly made out 

 it is an itemized list of all the different kinds, grades 

 and varieties of fruit, and if there is one variety that 

 sells in lots for different prices this is also to be listed. 



Commission houses get their name from the fact that 

 they charge a certain per cent or commission on the gross 

 receipts of the fruit sold. This is usually 10%, but in 

 some cases they operate as low as 7 or even 5%. When 

 the fruit is sold the commission is deducted from the 

 gross amount of the sale, then the freight is deducted, 

 and if there is any cartage or other charges, that is also 

 deducted and a check drawn for the balance and for- 

 warded to the producer. Along with this goes a receipted 

 freight bill from the railroad or transportation com- 

 pany showing the amount of freight paid for the ship- 

 ment. It is not customary for most commission houses 

 to do this, but the grower or shipper is entitled to it, 

 and if it is not forwarded with the bill of sale the com- 

 mission man should be requested to send one. 



There are several things for the producer to consider 



