OUTLETS AND METHODS OF SALE FOR SHIPPERS. 23 
tions for him and give him expert advice as to the best time to sell. 
Storage charges in the case of fruits are based upon monthly and 
seasonal rates. Thus with barreled apples the usual charge is from 
10 to 25 cents for the first month, with a monthly charge thereafter 
of from 10 to 15 cents, or a seasonal charge of 40 to 50 cents, which 
allows the shipper to store his commodities from one to six months. 
In many instances the provision of storage facilities on the farm 
may be a profitable investment. A storage house or cellar of the sim- 
plest type which will hold produce in good condition for even a few 
days may prove to be a determining factor between profit and loss. 
For instance, the psychological influence upon a buyer of the realiza- 
tion that the grower is not dependent upon him often will result in 
the offer of higher prices. 
Most growers are unable to store because of the fact that they need 
immediate cash returns in order to pay existing obligations. Where 
the standing or credit of a grower or association is unquestioned, it 
may be possible to secure substantial advances, using warehouse cer- 
tificates as collateral, but an unknown shipper will find great diffi- 
culty in securing such loans. It is doubtful whether advances would 
be made by banks on warehouse certificates based upon perishable 
products. Banks sometimes take these certificates as collateral from 
cooperative organizations, but this is done usually as a matter of form, 
the bank relying on the warehouse certificates for the perishable prod- 
ucts much less than on the assets and general credit of the cooperative 
organization. 
In many cases it also will be necessary to insure the goods while in 
storage to cover all possible risks, and this is an additional charge 
which the grower must pay, although comparatively the cost is not 
great. 
CONCLUSION. 
The development of the so-called "middleman system" has not 
been a parasitic growth. Distributors have arisen through economic 
necessity caused by the ever-widening distance between the producer 
and the consumer and the ever-increasing demands for service from 
the latter. There is no doubt that conditions can be improved 
greatly, but it is no less certain that the distributing trade performs 
a very valuable service at this time, though sometimes at a tremen- 
dous cost and with great waste. 
If the suggestions given in this bulletin appear complex, they will 
at least have accomplished one result — to make both the producer 
and consumer realize that there is a good reason for the existence of 
distributors. If the grower is not willing to take all these precau- 
tions, assume these risks, and spend the time necessary to locate the 
final consumer of his goods, he must depend upon the services of 
