132 THE CONNECTICUT POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



according to number. Where a single grower had more 

 than five crates, his lot was broken up into five-crate 

 parcels. This method has worked very successfully and 

 caused every lot of fruit to sell fully on its merit at the 

 highest price that any one of the dealers present thought 

 it worth. For the last five ^^ears the average returns have 

 been far better than the average returns of Hartford. 



Mr. : Last year through the "rush" 



days of the strawberry season, the Port Jefferson boat 

 brought into Bridgeport 500 crates, many of which sold at 

 one cent per quart. If I went in to the Bridgeport market 

 with berries a huckster or some of the other merchants would 

 say: "I can buy berries from the Port Jefferson boat at 

 one cent per quart ; if you want to sell your berries at 

 that price, I will take them, or, if not, you may take them 

 home." 



Mr. Sherwood : I have had a little experience in the 

 Bridgeport market. True; a good many berries come from 

 Long Island and sell at one and two cents per quart, and 

 possibly this has a bad effect ; but I think, as a general 

 thing it does not hurt the native fruit as much as we 

 imagine. If our fruit is good and properly packed and 

 freshly put upon the market, the best customers prefer it 

 every time. I find that I can get better average prices 

 for my whole crop by turning it over to the commission 

 men than by attempting to peddle it out to the retail 

 dealers. The wholesalers know more of what is coming in 

 from the outside, and are in better shape to quickly raise 

 or lower prices than is the grower, who has not the same 

 opportunity of keeping posted as to outside conditions. 



