TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



161 



have no desire to discuss this question of marketing in any spirit other 

 than that which will contribute to the greatest good to all. We should 

 never be subjected to abuse just because some grower happens to see 

 this great and vital question in a light different from some editor who 

 has no financial interests whatsoever involved in the business of fruit- 

 growing. I would therefore urge the press to treat all fairly. Be gener- 

 ous, gentlemen, who sit in your well-appointed offices; be fair to the 

 grower who tills the soil and contributes liberally to the support of the 

 press. 



What is the cause of and what the remedy for the ills of the grower? 

 Your physician would look for the cause, and then apply the remedy. 

 I am of the opinion that he would pronounce the grower's ailment 

 " Marketing diversionitis." It is a case for the surgeon, and there is 

 but one remedy for the disease — the knife, amputation. Diversion of 

 cars lies at the root of the whole trouble. I know that at first glance 

 this will be somewhat startling to some people, but after a sober second 

 thought you will agree with me that the diversion of cars is detrimental 

 to the best interests of all concerned — grower, shipper, broker, com- 

 mission man, jobber, and retailer alike, the only exception to the rule 

 being a class of brokers who deal in tramp cars. It is the tramp car 

 that plays "hob" with the market. 



I had some experience in diverting cars, away back thirty years ago 

 in shipping apples; and as long as we continued to do so, we had trouble. 

 The trade got into the habit of placing orders for several cars, antici- 

 pating an advance in price, intending that if prices declined to have 

 cars diverted. W r hen once it became known that the fruit would be 

 consumed in that particular market, there was no more turning down 

 of cars or further trouble along that line. 1 



Would it not be better to force the sale of fruit at the point to which 

 it is consigned, than to divert the same? Also you should know pretty 

 thoroughly what market is to take the fruit before it is picked, for it is 

 better by far that the fruit remain on the tree, which costs nothing, 

 than to have it rotting in the cars running over the country in search 

 of a market that will take it at its own price, and then be called upon 

 to make good the commission, brokerage, and freight. 



Brokers frequently wire to as many as one hundred different dealers, 

 offering a tramp car they have rolling. Now when several brokers are 

 doing the same thing, I ask, in the name of common sense, ''What would 

 you expect?" 



And again, no dealer would be justified in placing an order for 

 several cars, when his market was likely any day to be flooded with 

 cars which have been "hawked" about the country, from place to place, 

 seeking some one to devour it at his own price. If a car is rejected I 

 should sell it in that market. Don't hammer down some other market 

 1 1 — F-GC 



