The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-04-13
SKETCHES BY A COSMOPOLITAN.
Tricks of the Trade,

Teresa FARMERS ana trult growers to know
| how their produce is manipulated by
these clever operators, more especially
at this time, when the railroad enter
prise promises to facilitate matters, so
that at no distant day we may be en-
gagged in raising produce, fruits, ETC., for
the insatiate man of Gotham. .. ...
And first as to the cnerry buyers, who
seem to be class by themselves. They
make their appearance during June aud
July, furnished with spring balance
scales, lanterns, attendants, etc., and es-
tablish themselves at various points in
the market, and throughout the entire
night they lay in wait for game. Their
men are sent out in the streets to inter-
cept the countrymen as they cross the
different ferries, or drive down from
Westchester county. Soon they begin
to arrive, and then all is hustle, confu-
sion and rascality.
The mOduS operdndi is rs follows: AZ
ter making the price as low as possible
land being all com bined, and having q
perfect understanding, the price is about
what they please, they then begin to
weigh. The principal takes his place at
the desk to enter the weights, good op-
orator engaged from year to year, and
who is very skillful in this peculiar line,
commences to weigh the baskets of lus-
cious fruit. The countryman, intending
to be very watchful, keeps his eye on
the scales, but, bless your heart, he
might just as well look at the back as
the face, for, in the first place, the scales
are liked for the purpose; and be-
sides that, they are carefully hung just
the proper height that the operator, by
clapping his foot under the baskets, his
heel resting on the floor, and the basket
resting down on his toe, so that it is
made to weigh just what they please
and by this means, together with some
wild figuring when the account is made
up, why, the cherry trade is well worth
looking after; more especially as they
frequently buy up several tons in one
night during the height of the season.
Tubing up" is O very interesting
process that may be witnessed any MORN
ing before trade is commenced it con-
sists in emptying the greater part of
barrel OF potatoes, apples, onions, ETC.,
IN a large tub, taking out the larg, st as
they run out; then empty the tub care
fully back into the barrel, and place the
large ones on the top; by this means
barrel not nearly full will be rounded
up nicely, and look quite as good as it
is. When potatoes are carried to the
stands from the boats or cars, where
they are in bulk, the dealers send good
large barrels, and they feel aggrieved if
by using small barrels they cannot make
an extra barrel on every ten when they
are sold out again.
Indeed, the business is transacted for
the most part in a manner peculiar to
the place. When a lot of peaches are
landed on stand, being covered with
muslin covers, they are Immediately
turned upside down, and then the fruit
Is allowed to settle back again very care
fully, and they are set down very care
fully, and must not be disturbed. You
see them clap hand over the mouth of |
. strawberry basket (holding about a
handful), turn it over, and jar it slight
~, and set it carefully down, and thus |
sverything is topped off, loosened up,
and made the most of. One good church |
nan was asked on one occasion, How |
IAN you reconcile your plan of doing
business with your profession of relig- |
on-thls putting the finest fruit on the
,op, and shaking them up so that the
baskets and barrels may appear fuller
han they really are? is it not decep-
ionT why, bless your simple heart,
TO- said he: "our customers know Just
low the matter is, and would be greatly
deceived and disappointed if they did
,ot find them topped Off" And when
ne women who sold apples and other
ruit on the sidewalk by the post Office
nd elsewhere would come fiocking
round the old "deacon" to replenish
heir stock. 1 have overheard them ask,
-Arrah, thin, honey, tell us the thruth,
or q dacent ould man that We are."
Well, Mary (all apple women are Ma
ys), they're no larger or better in the
ottom than you see them ON top" And
hat was safe assertion for the dea-
on"
One word as to the commission deal
RS. Some of them are honest and up-
light in their transactions, but great
lany are quite the reverse, being as ar
ant set of knaves as can be found in
ny line OF trade; and, il one is dis
osed to be dishonest, opportunity is not
'anting. The usual commissions al
'wed were five per cent for selling beef
nd hogs, one shilling each for sheep,
ne shilling per basket for peaches, and
'r poultry, eggs, butter, cheese, and
eneral produce and fruit, the rate was
IN per cent, the consignee paying
eight and carriage. However, the pro-
ucer was often at some remote place;
erhaps in the far West, or South; and
le dealers were, many of them at least,
U Jait in making out bills, so that their
IN per cent. would be doubled, and in
'me cases trebled. When there is O
lut of perishable fruit in the market {
which is often the case with peaches),
len wide margin is offered, that dis
onest commission dealers are not slow
} take advantage of. Peaches may be I
orth one dollar basket in the morn g
q, half dollar ct noon, and before y
Ight drug at twenty-five cents, and
Id up by dumping the balance off the
ock by cart loads, to get the empty {
askets and make room for fresh arri- q
his. This have seen done repeatedly i
airing the height of the season not by s
~ means worthless fruit, either, but '
st such as would bring a dollar more G
IT basket under other circumstances. '
ne night in particular, 1 remember ,
lat the denizens of Washington street 6
Id vicinity got wind of the dumping r
'ocess, and literally swarmed the place t
get their supply; men, women and t
with baskets, pals, bags, and l