142 FRUIT-GROWING 



merits on delivery, pay transportation and 

 other charges and handle the business dealings 

 with the retail merchants. For this service 

 they have received usually, ten per cent, of the 

 gross sales and the general condemnation of 

 the fruit-growing public and the consumer as 

 well. As a matter of fact the commission men 

 of the country have been performing a distinct 

 service to both grower and consumer and much 

 of the blame that has been laid at their doors is 

 undeserved. I do not contest the statement 

 that there are crooked commission men. Neith- 

 er will any one contest my statement that there 

 are crooked apple-growers. No matter what 

 system of distribution we may use we will al- 

 ways find a certain share of crooks in our path, 

 but to condemn all commission men as being 

 dishonest would be just as unfair as to place all 

 farmers in that undesirable class. Our city pa- 

 pers have for years carried a stock complaint 

 against the " middle man" — meaning the com- 

 mission man — when as a matter of fact the real 

 culprit was the retail grocer. City papers will 

 not print anything against retailers because 

 they are an important factor in the advertising 

 department. Consequently the commission 

 man, who never advertises in the city papers, 

 bears the brunt of the editorial wrath. At this 

 writing I have in mind a case that was called to 

 my attention last week. A certain grocer in 



