114 



PEACH CULTUEB. 



to stand on each other, as that would compress the fruit, 

 and injure its appearance at least, if not its quality. The 

 wagon is coupled long. The first tier will contain three rows 

 of twelve baskets each ; the second and third five rows each 

 of the same number ; in all one hundred and fifty-six. These 

 wagons jam the fruit very little, and as they carry such 

 enormous loads, are almost indispensable to large grow- 

 ers. They cannot be taken into orchards, except where 

 wide avenues have been purposely left for them. In other 

 cases, they are brought to the entrance, and filled from 

 Dearborns, as ships are at anchor from lighters irom the 

 shore. 



CHAPTER XXL 



RETUENS. 



To the planter, who cultivates for profit, the returns 

 are the most interesting part of the business. These are 

 accounts of sales rendered by the consignees, which 

 are either daily or weekly as may be agreed upon. 

 When the quantity daily shipped is large, the shipper 

 usually requires daily accounts of sales ; if small, weekly. 

 These show the number of baskets received and sold ; if 

 graded, so many of each grade ; and the price received. 

 From these accounts, the shipper sees at a glance the con- 

 dition of his business, and, if not satisfactory, can take 

 steps to advance his interest, by shipping to another 

 market, to another consignee, and so on. He is also in- 

 formed by letter or telegram of the condition in which 

 .his fruit arrived; the precise time when it arrived ; and, 

 if either has been faulty, he is thus advised how to cor- 

 rect it. Letters are the usual medium of communication 

 between shippers and consignees ; but the telegraph is 



