THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCE 127 



advice that the market rates rule high for any particular 

 class of goods he communicates with others who are 

 likely to have the stock in demand. As several sales- 

 men have probably done the same, the result almost 

 invariably is an all round disappointment, caused by the 

 conspicuous difference between the selling prices and 

 those advised. It is not surprising under such circum- 

 stances that growers complain, and are often inclined to 

 make reflections which are not justified. 



Again, under this system, a grower can have no 

 control over the actual selling ; he rarely knows who 

 the purchaser is, and in the majority of cases the 

 producer is unknown to the buyer, any extension of his 

 business therefore rests in the hands of the salesman. 

 If a difference arises, and another salesman is tried, or 

 other markets sought, the grower has no connection to 

 carry with him. This is quite apart from any questions 

 respecting the actual prices realised for what is sold. 

 Reliable salesmen never object to giving the fullest 

 details that can be reasonably expected, but if every 

 client required an account of all transactions, or to 

 inspect the salesman's books, no business of the kind 

 could be conducted with profit. It is often the case 

 that large consignments of any particular produce may 

 be sold to a dozen or more different persons at varying 

 rates, and cash is received, so that keeping an account 

 against the buyer is not required. The amount of each 

 sale is put down to the credit of the sender, and the 

 total rendered as usual. In many cash transactions the 

 name of the purchaser is not known, unless there are 

 baskets or boxes to be returned, when booking becomes 

 a necessity as a check, though they would also be charged 

 to strangers. 



When sending fruit or vegetables in different grades, 

 or in several varieties, we have found salesmen willing 

 to keep the results separate as a guide to the grower. 



