10 BULLETIN 1362, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
A car containing several commodities or a large number of brands, 
marks, grades, or sizes, necessitating the separation of the shipment 
into more than the usual 15 or 20 lines, is expensive and cumbersome 
to handle, requires considerable space for display, and takes addi- 
tional time to sell. Consequently such shipments are not solicited by 
the auction companies, and they usually sell at some disadvantage. 
DIFFICULTIES OF TURNING NEW COMMODITIES TO AUCTION 
There are lines of fruits and vegetables that are not now being 
offered for sale at auction. Only a small fraction of the total ship- 
ments of vegetables is sold by this method, although most vegetables 
have been auctioned at times in a more or less limited way. 
One reason why more commodities are not sold at auction in 
volume is the present method of financing crop production. Dealers 
frequently assist in financing the growers by advances of cash or 
suplies. In consideration of this financial assistance the grower 
agrees to deliver all or a stated part of his crop to be marketed by 
the dealer, and shipments are consigned to him. The dealer who 
secures a part or all of his revenue from commissions or profits on 
the sale of these consignments is not inclined to turn them over 
to the auction for sale, since this would reduce his income. The auc- 
tion companies as a rule do not solicit this business, as they do not 
wish to antagonize that element of the trade. In some instances, 
however, auction companies themselves have made advances to 
growers or shippers to assist in financing shipments intended for 
auction. 
On the other hand, many growers prefer f. o. b. selling and are 
unwilling to ship on a commission basis. They consider that they 
have speculated on the crop sufficiently up to the time it is harvested 
and packed, without continuing the speculation throughout the 
marketing process. They prefer to sell f. o. b. shipping point and 
let the buyer take the chances of profit or loss on the market. 
Vegetables and some fruits are commonly sold in the large whole- 
sale markets between hours of midnight and 7 a. m. The buyers of 
these commodities, except in New York City, are not accustomed 
to assemble at any one time during this period. Consequently in 
order to turn these lines to auction the habits of the trade would have 
to be overcome, and it is a difficult matter to effect a change in the 
schedule of method pursued. 
Terminal facilities in the larger markets at the present time are 
inadequate, except during the winter and spring months, for the 
handling of a larger volume at auction. Until steps are taken to 
enlarge such facilities, both for receiving shipments and for making 
deliveries after sale, the selling of vegetables as well as additional 
fruits in volume presents marked difficulties. 
Lack of organization among the growers and shippers of a com- 
modity makes it more difficult to turn that line to the auction. The 
producers of vegetables have not been so thoroughly organized as 
the fruit growers, which may account in a measure for the difference 
in quantity of fruits and vegetables offered on the auction. This 
lack of organization, the establishment of an f. o. b. market, and 
the strong competition among the growers and shippers have all 
