The Canadian Horticulturist. 269 



THE MIDDLEMAN. 



R. G. S. PALMER, of New York City, writes a very sensible 

 article in the Fruit Worlds showing what a waste of time and 

 money is often spent by the commission merchant in keeping 

 agents at various points soliciting fruit consignments, or in doing 

 this himself He thinks the shipper should be left to his own 

 judgment in this matter, and the merchant should attend only to 

 " his legitimate business. He farther adds : 



The daily auctions that are being held at four or five different points, has 

 become quite a serious feature in the produce market, as a demoralizing influence 

 is frequently the result, for the reason, if only a limited quantity is forced on the 

 market in its overstocked condition, the lower prices are quickly noised about, 

 and the values of the supply in the whole market is depreciated. This easy and 

 quick method of getting rid of a large amount of produce (at some price, even if 

 not satisfactory to the owner), is becoming a temptation to the trade. 



The tendency of human nature to speculate on new schemes will afford tem- 

 porary encouragement to many of the new methods of marketing which are 

 claiming advantages over the old and tried system of selling on consignment. 

 But I am a firm believer in the law of the survival of the fittest, and that the 

 commission merchant is as legitimate and important a factor as any in commercial 

 lines, and to a great extent indispensable, as $100,000 worth of perishable products 

 of this vast country must be daily disposed of The markets are clogged, in fact, no 

 time to seek out buyers, the fruit must go forward or perish. The commission mer- 

 chant has slipped into this breach and saved the producer. He says, "send on your 

 goods, my store will be open at i a.m. to receive them, my salesman will be on 

 the dock at midnight to dispose of all arrivals, and you will have your reports of 

 sales by wire at your breakfast table." 



Yes, the commission merchant is a necessity, and he will not be driven to 

 the wall. He is here to stay. But, gentlemen of the trade, let us as far as is pos- 

 sible and practical, meet the requirements of the shippers, and eliminate all ob- 

 jectionable features, and endeavor to build up a closer relationship by working 

 direct with your shippers, and not through a third party. 



To the grower or shipper let me urge you, after carefully selecting your mer- 

 chant (and let it be one deserving your patronage), show your confidence in hmi 

 by giving him your undivided shipments. He will appreciate your patronage 

 and strive the harder to please you, and retain it. Do not be easily swayed by 

 these rumors of extreme and fictitious prices, that are floating in the air, around 

 the depots and wharves, at the opening of the shipping season. But stick to 

 your man if he has a record, and at the close of the season you will not regret it. 



