OUTLETS AND METHODS OF SALE FOR SHIPPERS. 5 
appear in newspapers, trade journals, auction sheets, bulletins pub- 
lished by private commission firms, and farm papers. In the case 
of fruits and vegetables, they are prepared by newspaper reporters or 
representatives of trade journals who are supposed to cover the 
market each morning and determine the range of prices for each 
commodity, either from actual sales or from the opinions expressed 
by members of the trade. Public auction sales and transactions on 
boards of trade also indicate general market conditions and aid in 
determining prevailing prices for the day. Auction quotations have 
the advantage of representing actual, bona fide sales in the majority 
of cases and of showing actual amounts moving at different prices. 
Quotations as sometimes published are not of great value unless 
price ranges are given for the varieties of each commodity as well as 
for the commodity as a whole. Thus, Northern Spy apples may be 
selling at prices ranging from $4 to $5.50 per barrel, while Ben Davis 
apples on the same day may be sold wholesale at $3 to $4.50. If the 
published quotations give the range in prices for apples as a whole, 
entirely disregarding varieties or grades, the quotations in this case 
would appear as "Apples, barreled, $3 to $5.50." This statement would 
be so broad as to be almost worthless and would lead to serious mis- 
interpretations. The lower figure in the range, as quoted, is sup- 
posed to represent the actual selling price for the lower grades. The 
grower having No. 2 Northern Spy apples to ship, on consulting these 
quotations might conclude that the market as quoted would be $2.50 
for his No. 2's, whereas sales for No. 2's of this variety actually would 
bring him $4. Thus it is evident that unless quotations are given for 
each variety appearing on the market in any considerable quantity, 
they may fall far short of giving an accurate index of the market. 
Another weakness is that while the higher figure in the range as 
quoted may be $5.50, very few barrels will be sold at this price, and 
the prevailing market price for fancy grades of Northern Spies may 
be as low as $4.50. 
Too often the importance of following the market constantly is not 
realized, and often quotations will remain unchanged for several days 
although the market has fluctuated daily. Trade quotations undoubt- 
edly are of great value in determining general price levels and market 
conditions. 
VISITING THE MARKET. 
A personal visit to the market which the shipper patronizes will 
more than repay expenses, for points which seem trivial to him are 
very important to dealers, and the producer should get the proper 
market perspective. Such a visit enables the grower to get into 
personal touch with the distributors, to select a reliable representa- 
tive, to learn the difficulties under which the car-lot receiver labors, 
and to appreciate the problem with which he constantly is confronted. 
