The Canadian Horticulturist. 179 



the dealer to throw this tier away than to sell the whole at the value repre- 

 sented by the top. An essential point for the dealer to consider is the selec- 

 tion of a commission merchant to sell his fruit. This being done, he will do 

 well to inform the merchant of the varieties and quantity of each fruit he pro- 

 poses shipping and to obtain all the information he can upon the best methods 

 of preparing and shipping the fruit ; also, the kind of packages to be used in 

 order to place the fruit upon the market to the best advantage. The dealer 

 is generally much better informed on those points than the shipper, who 

 would frequently save money if he would occasionally consult with the 

 merchant. Every shipper should be on the most friendly terms with his 

 dealer, as their interests are usually mutual. No shipper should hesitate to 

 ask for the information he needs, or take offence when the dealer points out 

 defects in packages or methods of packing. I consider it a part of his duty 

 to note and inform his patrons of these deficiences, yet I have frequently 

 known persons to get angry at their dealers for mentioning these items, 

 and quit shipping to them. One of the great mistakes shippers make 

 is to keep their dealers in ignorance of the quantity and varieties they 

 have to send, or when they intend shipping. One day a grower 

 may send a small lot of a certain variety, and should the dealer 

 report its sale at a high price, the sale perhaps being because it was a 

 small lot, he may immediately double or triple the quantity, thinking 

 it is just as easy to sell much as little. On its arrival the dealer is compelled 

 to lower the price or let it perish, whereas if the shipper had notified the 

 dealer of the amount he proposed shipping, the dealer could have instructed 

 him as to the quantity to send at once. Not only this, but the dealer 

 could probably have arranged with his customers to take it on arrival at 

 liberal prices. A curious feature of the fruit trade is that shippers demand a 

 daily report of sales from the dealers, yet at no time during the season do 

 most shippers give the dealer any notice of their intentions as to shipments, 

 and be they little or much, a full price is always expected. Nor does 

 it seem to enter the minds of some that the non-arrival of the usual quantity 

 effects the dealer, or would be a disappointment to the purchaser, who had 

 been accustomed to get it regularly. In fact shippers show the utmost 

 indifference to the whole matter. 



