l6o THE POTATO 



2. The Distant Market. — Many growers must ship. 

 For such, combination is essential. The method 

 adopted by the Eastern Shore potato farmers (Vir- 

 ginia) is noteworthy. There are 2,500 shippers in the 

 Exchange. They sell all their produce through select- 

 ed receivers, appointed by the dire(5lors, in New York, 

 Boston, and Philadelphia. The receivers charge 8 per 

 cent, commission, of which 3 per cent, is given to the 

 agent who solicits the business. This agent should 

 be familiar with the market requirement and give in- 

 structions in regard to methods of grading, assorting, 

 and packing, and in this way render the produce more 

 valuable. Combinations such as the following com- 

 mend themselves : the use of the " registered label," 

 which is similar to a " union label," and is placed on 

 all packages, or a trade-mark similar to that used by 

 the Farmers' Produce Association, of Delaware, which 

 carries the number of the shipper, and enables the 

 seledled salesman to inform the grower at once if any- 

 thing is wrong. 



FARMERS' PRODUCE ASSOCIATION 

 OF DELAWARE (27) 



The contents of this package are 



GUARANTEED 



to be as good all through as on top 



Commission Rates. — In Cleveland potatoes are 

 sometimes sold on a commission basis of 4 and 5 cents 

 per bushel, or 10 per cent, of the sale price. In St. 



