294 HARVESTING AND MARKETING 



to be supplied must be known by the shipper if he is to obtain 

 full value of his products. 



The differences in customs of individual markets extend to 

 even smaller details than the kind of package and arrangement of 

 specimens in the package. In some markets, radishes in bunches 

 are sold ^vith the roots on; in other markets, the tap-roots of turnip 

 radishes are cut off. In some markets green onions are sold with 

 the roots on, in others \vith the roots off. The amount of top left 

 on green onions also differs greatly in different markets, in some 

 the entire top being left on. Rhubarb likewise is sold in different 

 markets with different amounts of the leaf remaining on the stalk, 

 but always the same amount in the same market. For some 

 markets, bunch beets are always washed, for others they are not. 

 In all these details, the grower must conform to the custom of the 

 given market if he wishes to sell his products to the best advantage. 



SELLING THE CROP 



As mentioned in Chapter I, there are two distinct kinds of 

 market, local and distant. The local market may be a street or 

 stall market to which the various growers haul their wagons 

 laden with produce and sell at wholesale to retail dealers or at 

 retail to individual consumers. Such markets are organized and 

 operated in most American cities of any considerable size. 



Local Produce Markets. — A good example of a thoroughly 

 organized street market is that on West Randolph Street, Chicago. 

 For a distance of four blocks the street is about double the width 

 of an ordinary street, and is set apart for the use of the market 

 gardeners in selhng their products. The gardeners' wagons are 

 pulled up as close as possible to the street car tracks which occupy 

 the center of the street, and the teams and tongues are removed. 

 There is a solid bank of wagons on each side of the tracks. Sales 

 are made and produce unloaded from the rear of the wagons. 

 Produce is hauled to this market from a distance of ten to eighteen 

 miles. Some gardeners start from home early in the afternoon 

 and get their wagons placed by five o'clock; others drive in during 

 the night. Nobody holds the same place for the season. Each 

 one gets the best position he can find each day. Business begins 

 about 3:00 a.m. and all wagons must be off the market by 1:00 

 P.M., so that the city can clean the street of all refuse. This market 

 is both wholesale and retail; any grower will sell in any quantity 

 to suit the purchaser. Wholesale dealers, grocers, peddlers, and 



