168 MODERN FRUIT MARKETING 
dress for labelling the boxes, and in various ways make 
‘it convenient for the grower to patronize them. They 
never offer to quote any price or to advance cash for 
orders but always solicit shipments to be made direct to 
the commission house. 
The grower picks and packs his fruit according to the 
methods in use in his particular locality and places the 
address of the house on the packages, takes them to the 
railroad and sends them off. In a day or two after the 
goods are sent the grower should receive a card of 
acknowledgment from the commission man and then, 
a little later, after the goods are sold, he receives a bill 
of sale. Where this bill of sale is properly made out 
it is an itemized list of all the different kinds, grades 
and varieties of fruit, and if there is one variety that 
sells in lots for different prices this is also to be listed. 
Commission houses get their name from the fact that 
they charge a certain per cent or commission on the gross 
receipts of the fruit sold. This is usually 10%, but in 
some cases they operate as low as 7 or even 5%. When 
the fruit is sold the commission is deducted from the 
gross amount of the sale, then the freight is deducted, 
and if there is any cartage or other charges, that is also 
deducted and a check drawn for the balance and for- 
warded to the producer. Along with this goes a receipted 
freight bill from the railroad or transportation com- 
pany showing the amount of freight paid for the ship- 
ment. It is not customary for most commission houses 
to do this, but the grower or shipper is entitled to it, 
and if it is not forwarded with the bill of sale the com- 
mission man should be requested to send one. 
There are several things for the producer to consider 
