474 The Principles of Fruit-growing. 



metropolis should aid growers and shippers in com- 

 prehending the needs of the market. The following 

 is a graphic description of fruit -selling in Chicago:* 



"The distribution of the supplies furnished by 

 the fruit-grower, whether direct or through the 

 agency of others, has gradually become a complex 

 and complete system. Perhaps I ought not to use 

 the term 'complex,' as each step is well defined 

 and, after all, simple, but I think but few fruit- 

 growers have any idea of how complete it is, and 

 to what distances fruit is exported, the only limit 

 being the cost and ability of the consumer to pay 

 prices commensurate with the expenses and risks. 



"Practically all receipts are taken from the depots 

 or docks to the various places of business as early 

 as practicable after the arrival of the train or 

 steamer. To make the matter clearer, let us illus- 

 trate by using letters in place of names. A, a 

 shipper, consigns to B, his correspondent, a ship- 

 ment of fruit. On arrival, B has his spring wagons 

 in waiting, and takes it to his place of business on 

 South Water street. There, with other lots of fruit 

 of different grades, qualities and conditions, it is 

 examined and offered for sale. The largest, finest, 

 and every -way -select lots are taken by the retail 

 grocers whose patronage is among the 'upper ten,' 

 to whom money is no object, apparently. The grade 

 must be of the very best, quality superior and con- 

 dition perfect. Less than 5 per cent of the total 



*Mr. Barnett, of Barnett Bros., before Mich. Hort. Soc., Dec., 1896, as re- 

 jiorted in the Horticultural Gazette, Allegan, Mich., for Dec. 19, 1896. 



