FRUIT GROWING 77 



packed, and shipped or placed in cold storage 

 as the judgment of the sales agent and the con- 

 dition of the fruit and the market may justify. 

 This plan completely obliterates the individual, 

 but has the advantage of maintaining a high 

 grade and uniform pack upon which a reputa- 

 tion for the region can be established. It also 

 has the advantage of wider and more effective 

 distribution, an important matter in these days 

 of immense production. Wide distribution is 

 one of the most effective methods of steadying 

 prices. Congested markets with consequent de- 

 pression of prices are in this way avoided. The 

 product is sold on order rather than on consign- 

 ment. 



Consignment selling, while it must be de- 

 pended upon for early apples, is the least satis- 

 factory of all methods. Under present condi- 

 tions the shipper has no guarantee and no ade- 

 quate redress. Any man who can rent quarters, 

 publish prices current, and issue rubber stencil 

 stamps may engage in the commission business. 

 The producer stands to meet all charges for 

 production, transportation, and sale, and relies 

 upon the honesty and judgment of the man at 

 the other end to so dispose of the product as 

 to make a profit or loss. 



What is needed is a law placing the commis- 

 sion business under as careful protection as that 



