184 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



promptness and regularity count for much in retaining 

 trade. A variety and a succession of vegetables are im- 

 portant factors, whatever the method of selling may be. 



Retail wagons should be built especially for the pur- 

 pose (230). A covered wagon for the protection of 

 salesman and vegetables is highly desirable. A Minne- 

 sota gardener's wagon is provided with a gong, and the 

 salesman also furnishes his customers with large printed 

 cards placed in the windows whenever vegetables are 

 wanted. With the cards and the gong very little time 

 is lost in getting buyers to the wagon. 



Many cities have retail markets where farmers and 

 gardeners are privileged to place their wagons and sell 

 to the consumers. When this method is followed the 

 gardener should always occupy the same place so that 

 regular customers will know just where to find him. It 

 is not so important to carry an assortment of vegetables. 

 It is often an advantage to make a specialty of a few 

 which may be grown to a high degree of perfection. The 

 gardener will soon become well known for these par- 

 ticular crops. 



Some gardeners living in the suburbs of cities sell 

 large quantities of vegetables in the field or in the pack- 

 ing shed. The plan is satisfactory, provided waiting on 

 the customers does not interfere too much with the work 

 that may be in progress. 



H. B. Fullerton of Long Island has developed a plan 

 of shipping to consumers in large cities, mainly New 

 York. Figure 50 shows the Long Island hamper packed 

 with an assortment of vegetables. The two layers of 

 three 4-quart baskets are separated by a division rack. 

 Before packing, thin paraffin paper is cut in sizes large 

 enough to line the boxes and to lap over the top and 

 cover the vegetables. An assortment of about nine vege- 

 tables is sent in each hamper. After business has been 

 established with a family, a preference is often expressed 



