The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1893-05-31
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

mttec read the following paper.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON MARKETING.
Mr.. President and Members of the Horticultural
Society:
In presenting my views on this subject desire
first to call attention to the report of your COM
mttee on marketing, made at the last annual
meeting. 1t was stated in that report that
about IS per cent of the crop of the preceding
year (lS91-92) had been shipped out consign-
ment, 10 per cent. had passed through the Flor
ida Fruit Exchange, and 5per cent.was sold on the
trees or f. O. B. with an average result OF but
more than fifty cents per box on the trees l also
wish to call attention to the fact that the com
mittee was unanimous in recommending the sale
OF the crop at home. This recommendation called
forth great deal of discussion, not only on the
floor of the convention, but in the press of the
State, and among the growers at large. AS ICON
sequence, it is estimated that considerably more
than so per cent. of the entire product OF the
present season, 1928, has been sold at home,
and at prices rangi ng from one dollar to one dol
lar and seventy five cents per box on the trees
and that the proportion would have been much
greater but for the severe cold in January, which
caused the buyers to retire from the field. Such
results obtained with but a partial adoption of
the plan of selling at home, would surely seem to
Justify and confirm he opinion expressed by your
committee that such system would completely
solve the problem. While great good has come
from it's partial adoption, it must be admitted
that tie 40 or As per cent. hat.wasforwarded on
consignment for sale had dem Oralizing effect
the markets which had an influence on the buyers
here causing them to makelow offers.I is impossi
BILE to place any considerable portion of such a
product in the markets consignment without
it's having the effect to lower the price.
AS writer of the Riverside California; Press
tersely puts it, 1.-The tendency in any market of
consigned goods is down while on purchased
stock it is up No buver, however shrewd can
therefore meet consigned competition. quo
ting again from the article referred to above the
writer says "take any market with dozen coed
houses, and let one OF their number receive regU-
lar consignments, and the other eleven dare not,
and will not buy. In order therefore to realizo
the full benefits OF this plan, the holder of the
naming 40 per cent. of the crop should be in
duced to join in the movement, thus preventing
the ruinous competition which twill Inevitably
arise by it's being forwarded sfor sale. AS soon
a. it becomes settled that this is to be the flu
ture policy of the growers money will flow into
the business; packing houses will be erected at
central points, at which the fruit will be concen-
trated in large quantities, which will insure n
much better classification, and more uniform
packing that will greatly enhance the value of
the product. When this shall be effected the
distribution will be made from here. Not only
will the dealers in the great centers purchase
their supplies, but the interior markets will or
der direct. The supplies for the markets of the
country, as well as that for foreign consumption,
will be regulated by the demand and not
by the caprice OF ill-infOrmed consignors This
overstOcking at any particular point. The
growers will receive their money q satisfactory
obligation for their fruit before it is taken from
the trees, and will be relieved from the anxetes
and risks connected with the old methods All
questions of class fl :atiOn packing, transpOrta-
zion and distribution will be turned over to the
buyers with the fruit. Under such conditions the
buyers and packers can exercise fair degree OF
confidence knowing that the markets will not be
demorazed by consigned stock but that deal
must and will buy their supplies at market
rates. The experience of the present season
should satisfy everyone that there need be
fears that there will not be buyers for the whole
product, or that there will be combinations to
control and depress the values. The industry is
too urge, and the demand too great for sue
cessful combine. There will in this-as in all
other lines of trade, be sharp attempts to buy
cheap and to sell dear, but the growers easily
protect themselves from deception, and readily
ascertain the real value of the product.
In conclusion let me say that I earnestly be-
lieve that this is the only possible means of saw