The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-12
FARM, FIELD, GARDEN
How to Market Fruit at a
Profitable Price.
THE BEST KINDS TO RAISE
Rich Hsy for Dairymen-To Raise Good
silags Corn-Hints for Agri-
culturisss.

Every year the fruit markets appear to
be 90 over-snpplied that growers become
discouraged in their work, and conclude
that the business is no longer profitable
The cause and remedy Of this depression
in prices cannot always be ascertained, but
there are many features Of the trade which
growers know little or nothing about.
There are annually thousands Of quarts of
berries, tons Of unripe and poor grapes,
thousands Of barrels of apples and ounces
thrown away or destroyed in the large
cities because they are unfit for consump-
ton, and hence cannot find purchaser.
The fruit grover should occasionally take
glimpse of the other end Of the business
transaction. and learn . lesson from the
markets before the season for fruits opens
The greatest mistake made by growers
Is that Of shipping unripe grapes to the
city early in the season when other fruits
are plentiful. Very few will buy grapes
then unless they are in perfect condition,
and the tons Of unripe ones in . measure
depress the prices of the others. The
spirit which prompts the grower to send
these unripe fruits to market is the true
one. for each vies with the others to get
his there first. But unless they are ripe
and in good condition the ruling high
prices for early fruit will not be obtained.
In the case of strawberries it is the same
story--poor, small. halfgrown fruit, care
lessly packed, and hopelessly mixed up.
Many dealers buy their berries from the
large cities, and ship them on to the
smaller ones, and in this trade they need
only fine, solid fruit. While thousands of
crates Of berries cannot be sold,
IL frequently happens that these
dealers cannot get enough desira-
BILE fruit to fill their orders.
The markets, however, are glutted with
inferior grades, which become annually
more difficult to dispose of. Premature,
wormy and imperfect apples and pears
likewise glut the markets, and make it
hard work to keep up the prices for good
fruit. Reliable growers are becoming more
careful in their selection of fruit for the
markets. but there il still a large number
Of ignorant growers who send tons of their
poor fruit to the cities with the idea that
they will get something at least for it.
Fruit culture is extended over too wide IN
area, and the greatest thing IL needs is q
less number Of acres devoted to it, and
better cultivation of superior varieties.
From the time the fruit is picked until
IL reaches the commission merchant the
grower should sec that it is properly
handled. Good, careful grading and pack
ing are essential, and then good transport
ing facilities. Frequently fruit is greatly
injured by q careless driver who takes it
to the station or city. Growers would do
well to be on hand at the station. and ex-
anime the fruit before it is shipped. The
top tier Of fruit when it reaches sthe mar
ket 10 often thus nearly worthless, and if a
purchaser judged the whole crate from
this layer he would give very small price
for the whole lot. Those living some dis
lance from large cities should examine the
methods of grading and packing fruits and
vegetables adopted by the Long island and
the markets in their own wagons. If you
examine barrel Of apples, pears or po-
tatoes you will be willing to swear that
there IL not an inch Of difference in diam
eter between them. The berries are per-
feet in size and ripeness, and packed 80
neatly that II seems like q shame 70 dis
turb them. The celery is bleached TO the
tips Of the leaves and the turnips look as
II they had been washed and scrubbed.
Such growers get the cream of prices. The
cause Of this 10 that the farmers have TO
ray big rental for their land, and they
cultivate only 90 much as they can do
justice to.
A great deal in fruit growing depends on
measure. To do this the packing should
not be trusted to another. Another point
is to have reliable commission merchant
10 deal with, and then not hesitate to COM
municate with him frequently. Keep we'll
informed about the state OF the market,
and always advise with the merchant
when about to ship quantity of fruit.
Probably he can save you many dollars by
advising you TO wait a few days or weeks
before picking IL. The grower as a rule de-
mands daily reports of sales, but he sell
dom ventures to inform his agent in adj
vance how much fruit he is going 10 send
him This is where the grower shows his
lack OF business qualities. If fruit grow
ing II To he made profitable ell of these
POINTS must be considered early in the sea-
son and adhered 10 right along.
A. SfLLIeE,
New York Commission Merchant.