LOCAL SELLING OF MARKET GARDEN PRODUCTS 143 



the first twenty-five bushels. It read hke this: "Beans in very 

 poor condition, sold at thirty cents a bushel. Total, $7.50." The 

 balance due the grower after deducting commission, cartage, and 

 freight expenses, was eighty -five cents. 



One other instance. A man shipped apples to a commission 

 man and received returns saying that the apples were nothing like 

 what he should have had, and sold very low. The man shipped 

 another lot and went to market with these apples unbeknown to 

 the commission man. After they had reached his stand, he went 

 there and inquired for apples. After looking them all over, he found 

 a barrel that suited him well and bought them at a pretty good price, 

 but they were his own apples. He said to the commission man, 

 "How is this?" and gave him the letter he had received from the 

 other apples. He said, "These apples are exactly like the others, 

 and there must be something done about it." The matter was 

 settled very satisfactorily. 



These things are not pleasant. We are sorry that they have 

 existed, and while we do not wish to charge the commission men 

 with being dishonest, we think that sometimes they have erred in 

 judgment. 



LOADING THE WAGON 



Returning to the subject of local selling, I wish to call your 

 attention to the neatness, arrangement, and attractive manner of 

 the vegetables upon the market wagon. All products should be 

 strictly fresh, well washed, and bunched in sizes that will be most 

 called for by your local market, and further should be so arranged as 

 to attract the eye of the customer. While time will not allow a full 

 explanation, you should aim to have a variety from the garden at all 

 times of the year, and at the earliest possible date that the produce 

 will be full grown, with never any but the best varieties of each kind. 

 You should have regular days for going to market and never fail. 

 Your customer should have a right to expect you there and at about 

 the same time each day. There is nothing like promptness for 

 success in business. If you agree to do a thing, do it. If they 

 expect that on a certain day at a certain time you will arrive with 

 your vegetables, it is best that you are there, because many a lady 

 and possibly your best customers have company coming and are 

 waiting for your goods. Always have enough if possible to carry you 



