MARKETING 175 
collectively. The selling is done by a produce company 
which is also a member of the association, and whose 
members are, in addition, general merchants. The com- 
pany receives for its services a certain fixed price. The 
greenhouse men that are in this association raise practi- 
cally nothing but lettuce and tomatoes. The lettuce is 
cut at the greenhouses, and placed in boxes especially 
prepared for same and brought to the company’s store, 
where it is inspected, washed, packed and prepared for 
shipment. This is done under the supervision of the 
association and at the association’s expense, 2 per cent 
ot the gross sales being taken out to cover these ex- 
penses. The tomatoes are handled in practically the 
same manner, and the aim of the association is to pack 
its stuff uniformly, and to see that only vegetables of 
good quality are put on the market. It has also been the 
aim of the association through its selling agents to obtain 
as wide a distribution of its products as possible. The 
association has been remarkably successful. While the 
members have full power through their officers and com- 
mittees to pass upon all questions concerning their goods, 
they have always left the selling of them entirely to their 
regularly appointed agents. The lettuce returns are pro- 
rated weekly and all who bring the lettuce in one week 
receive the same price. The tomato sales, on account of 
more rapid fluctuation of the market, are pro-rated twice 
weekly. 
There is a unique organization of eight to ten frame 
growers at Norfolk, Va., known as the “Hotbed Growers’ 
Association.” Each member of this association is also a 
member and stockholder of the Southern Produce Com- 
pany, and secures affiliation in this way with the larger 
and stronger organization. The members of the Hotbed 
Association plant, harvest and market the same crops at 
the same time. This insures large shipments, and elimi- 
nates, as far as possible, competition among the members, 
