Commercial Disposal of the Sweet Potato 345 



most important systems of marketing. If a company 

 of progressive growers could be organized that would 

 build a chain of conmiercial curing-plants in the large 

 markets, with managers to receive the stock, store it and 

 later sell to the jobbers and retail trade when the price 

 was sufficiently high, a most efficient commercial storage 

 and marketing system could be developed. In fact, if 

 such a corporation had sufficient capital and support of 

 the growers over the country, there is no reason why in 

 time it could not almost control the entire sweet potato 

 industry of this country. Without doubt the very near 

 future will witness the growth of just such a corporation, 

 controlled and managed as are the big corporations 

 which now import tropical fruits. 



Some factors in foreign marketing coincide with those 

 of local marketing, and there are also many differences. 

 It is instructing to compare these two methods of sell- 

 ing. The commissions, freight, and additional expense 

 of packing make it necessary to receive a much larger 

 price than can be obtained at home. 'ITet prices on home 

 markets, other things being equal, are more often 

 greater than the net returns from foreign shipments. 

 Competition is also greater on the big markets because 

 the goods must measure up to the highest standards 

 of all other sections of the country. The best of every- 

 thing is shipped. The sweets must not only be the best 

 of their variety, but the variety itself must be of the 

 kind in popular favor. Most of the larger markets 

 give preference to certain standard varieties, which, al- 

 tiiough perhaps not so good as some other kinds, are 

 most popular because of prestige gained through years 

 of continued appearance. To change such varietal 

 market demands is a problem of judicious advertising 



