128 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



This is important, as it is soon found which quality 

 yields the best return, and the future consignments 

 may be regulated accordingly. Many salesmen make 

 a speciality of some class of goods ; some are particularly 

 concerned with fruit, others with vegetables, and still 

 others with flowers. A few will be found that have a 

 connection for the highest qualities only, and they will 

 not be troubled with inferior grades ; while others 

 again supply a different class of buyers in large quantities 

 at cheap rates, and, in consequence, are not so well fitted 

 for finding a good market for the best quality. All 

 these are matters which demand the producer's attention 

 and investigation. 



Salesmen's charges vary from 5 per cent, to 10 per 

 cent, on the sales, perhaps the most usual being 7J per 

 cent., or is. 6d. in the pound. It is the custom in some 

 markets to charge a fixed commission per box or basket, 

 regardless of the price obtained ; when the prices are 

 low this falls rather heavily upon the vendor, but when 

 they are good he has the corresponding advantage. On 

 the whole, it is more satisfactory to pay a percentage 

 on the results. The higher rates of commission are 

 charged when the salesmen supply the baskets required, 

 otherwise a separate charge is made for their use. 

 When it is considered that most salesmen will render a 

 weekly account with their cheques, and that if they do 

 not receive cash for the goods sold they take all the 

 risk in collecting the debts, the charges cannot be 

 regarded as unreasonable. At the same time the com- 

 mission and all other deductions (like market charges) 

 are made from the amount paid to the grower, and in a 

 bad market these appear rather formidable. 



Growers as Salesmen. — The second method of consign- 

 ment is especially convenient when there are two or 

 more partners in the business, when the grower has 

 sons old enough to take part in the active work, or 



