138 MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 
efficiency and general helpfulness to the producer has 
increased from year to year. 
Parcel Post.—Another means of transporting perish- 
able goods, which is now only in its infancy, is the use 
of the parcel post. It is not possible to predict at pres- 
-ent just how far this service will develop, yet most 
shippers are looking forward to the time when a real 
= efficient parcel post 
can be put in opera- 
tion. There are many 
reasons, both pro and 
con, regarding the use 
of the parcel post for 
perishable goods, and 
these are far too num- 
Fig. 102—PASTEBOARD PACKAGES © CUS to Re andi 
For sending produce by mail. lengthy consideration 
here. The greatest 
value of this plan lies in the shipping of produce 
from the grower to the consumer. This will cause 
the elimination of all middlemen and represent theoreti- 
cally the ideal condition for marketmg farm produce. 
Its use will be attended by many difficulties until the 
consuming public has been educated to appreciate its 
value and until then it will probably not be in ex- 
tensive use. 
In addition to this, the present rate offered by parcel 
post is not materially less than that offered by express 
companies and for fruits is still too high to be of service 
to the individual producer. When the consumers in the 
large cities can arrange in advance to use the mail 
to order produce direct from the farms, then will 
