The Florida agriculturist., 1881-07-20

WHICH We Can dO JUST "0 WIZ -
selves ? 1t is true that to some eX-
tent, our orange crops must be
handled by commission men at the
other end of the route, but here we
believe no su:h need exists.
| have heard men say, it is so much
work to gather and properly prepare
a crop that we cannot attend to it..
Now, it is very evident, that there is
just about such an amount of work to
be performed with a gwen quantity
OF fruit. and the producer may as vel!
direct this labor himself as to entrust
it TO the care of a middlenan. Aud
if first he don't succeed, try again.
| contend it is bad state of things
when middlemen and spectators get
any branch of business so much in
their control that the whole COM
munity must submit to their extor-
tions, and the producer either sell
for less, or the consumer pay more.
and probably both. When this comes
TO pass, will it not be much as it is
in the grain and pork, cotton and
flour, and many other branches of
business Has any one ever heard
OF flour being a dollar or two higher
than usual, when the good wife says
the barrel is about empty and the
husband obliged to get another with
perhaps very little cash in The 'box?"
Have we ever heard at such times
the expression, "Plague take the
Speculators"? And think you, did
the man who grew the wheat get any
higher price for his product? ? 1 think
not. Would it help matters with us
If corners were made by these men in
oranges? Then again l contend that
if a person is producing superior
article or commodity, which we all
should endeavor to do, that instead
OF the speculator receiving the benefit
of such superior article it should be-
long to the producer and be known
in the markets by his brand; then
will such be sought after in the
markets and command top prices.
We might &C OF for lite time, sell
ling our crops to commission men
ana spectators and never be known
ourside of our own neighborhood, as
orange growers, merchants and man.
everywhere regard the
good will of their business, as of
great value TO them, also with liter.
ary men, and nearly always such are
protected by patents or copy rights.
We have known these SPECTATORS to
contract with different parties for
large quantities OF fruit, which would
accumulate in their packing houses
and much Of it lie there in the bins
Tor weeks with great loss, and then
be reported as being poor and de-
cayed, and refuse to pay for them
when had the grower him self handled
the fruit, it would all have been Oh
its way to market and sold for good
prices.
During the past orange season OF
loSO-Sl, one of these orange specn-
lators came along and bargained with
a neighbor for her entire crop, at
what seemed and really was fair
price, had the contract been carried
out. The buyer went on for a while
gathering and shipping all the finest
in the grove, not taking all as agreed.
This wenL on until the freeze OF Dec.
29th, when many oranges were en-,
tirely ruined. Then the contractor
refused to take the remainder. True
the buyer paid for what he did take
away, but the whole amount paid
the owner was very small compared
with what might have been realized
with good management. Again we
have known a party to contract with
a firm doing large business for the
sale of his entire crop at good prices,
the buyer saying Ship us as fast as
you can" By and by while large
lot were gathered all ready to ship.