322 



THE APPLE 



any profit it is theirs, and any loss must be the grower's. They 

 should change their methods if they desire confidence, but this 

 they will not do so long as they have a large business under pres- 

 ent methods. Before patronizing a commission man, be sure of 

 his integrity ; then try to follow his suggestions, and do not desert 

 him if he does not bring you the highest price the first season. 



A busy commission market is Washington Market on West 

 Street, in the lower part of New York City. It is about 780 feet 

 long, allowing as many as 125 cars to unload in one morning. 

 The commission men are at work early in the morning, selling 



Fig. 147. On the dock 

 The Erie Railroad pier in New York City, where the apples are sold 



direct to the highest bidder — whether consumer, retailer, or 

 jobber. Barrels are there opened for inspection, reheaded, loaded 

 onto wagons, and drawn away. Apples, for the most part, are 

 handled by the commission men on a 10-per-cent basis, and if 

 reasonably satisfactory prices cannot be obtained at the pier, they 

 are taken to storehouses. Sometimes an extra profit of 25 cents 

 per barrel can be obtained by so doing. It costs from 6 to 10 cents 

 a barrel to move apples from the dock to Washington Street. 



The commission men have teams and trucks of their own, the 

 average cost of each being $1000.00. The horses last from one 

 to five years and the expense of keeping them is $35.00 each per 



