SELLING METHODS 215 



a sales force in this country. They simply have one 

 agent and, by consigning everything to this agent, allow 

 him to handle an enormous business through the auction 

 companies. Even large organizations sell practically all 

 of their imported fruits through the auction companies. 

 In a like manner most of the fruit that is shipped from 



Fig. 114. THE FREE CITY MARKET AT BOSTON, MASS. 



Many cities have similar free markets where produce may be sold as 



it comes in from the farm. 



the United States to England, especially fresh fruit, is 

 sold at auction abroad. 



Their method of doing business is somewhat different 

 than the auctions in the United States, in that it is 

 more strict and has less publicity. Fruit that is im- 

 ported from the United States is taken to the dock and 

 samples opened up for inspection. Most of the auction- 

 ing is done in the warehouse, on the docks. The fruit 

 is sold in barrel or box lots, the auctioning lasting from 

 10 o'clock in the morning until the day's shipments are 

 sold out. There are four or five auctioneers taking turns 



