14 Annals of Horticulture. 



trees come into bearing, very perfect methods of distribut- 

 ing the product must be devised, particularly as the California 

 groves are placing large quantities upon the market. The 

 Florida Fruit Exchange decided that all oranges should be 

 sold at auction this year, rather than by the customary com- 

 mission method. All sales are to be made in Jacksonville, 

 New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Cincin- 

 nati, St. Louis and New Orleans. This means that shipments 

 are to be consigned to a few points, rather than scattered over 

 the country as heretofore. The exchange has probably hand- 

 led two-thirds of the Florida crop this year. 



A "Florida Orange Combine" was formed in New York 

 early in September, to which "all responsible and reputa- 

 ble houses in the trade shall be eligible," all "Florida or- 

 ange growers to be admitted free of any dues." The object 

 sought by this association has been a subject of considerable 

 discussion, and an excerpt from the constitution is therefore 

 inserted : "The object of this association shall be to prevent 

 consignments of Florida oranges, by concentration of the same 

 at some central point or points, viz. : Jacksonville or Cains- 

 ville, or wherever it may be found most practicable to do so, 

 and we hereby pledge ourselves to establish a buyer in Florida 

 at such point and buy all the oranges our section may demand, 

 in honest rivalry with other sections of the United States, 

 thus fixing a uniform price for all grades throughout the trade. 

 While we pledge ourselves to buy, in Florida, along with 

 others, that portion of the crop which will supply our section, 

 we expect the Florida grower to cease consignment of his 

 fruit, unless the same is consigned to a member of this organi- 

 zation, as it is apparent to any fair-minded man that one could 

 not safely purchase and sell against commission fruit. We, 

 therefore, pledge ourselves not to buy fruit of any man or set 

 of men engaged in consigning any portion of his or their 

 crop, except as stated above. This association will establish a 

 uniform grade, and at all times get the best possible informa- 

 tion for the use of growers on picking, carrying and packing, 

 and improve the transportation in every possible way by in- 

 ducing the different lines to use the most improved cars, and 

 when possible put on special orange trains running on fast 

 time, and provide a uniform system of marketing the entire 

 crop by auction, and in every way make the interest of the 



