Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1909-11-17
r ORANGE CROP
By PRISCILLA

@1'm not a farmer" said Mr.. Rob-
erts, leaning back in his chair on the
wide veranda and looking out medi-
tatirely toward the orange groves
over which Curtis Everett had taken
i so much trouble; but can tell you,
there's only one road to success, in
farming as in everything else, my
by. Aim for the top. For instance,
friend of mine found irst-rate cider
apples in his new orchard. Did he
make cider out OF them, ike every
other farmer round? Not he; he
made the very best cider vinegar in
stead, by careful chemical processes,
and then he took some of it down to
New York. He went to the retailers
direct, not to the commission men
there's a trick for you to learn, Curt
ssand he got ten dollars a barrel for
it. Same way with his butter and
cheese-always the best, always at
tractively put up, always at top
prices. The result is that Jennings
is making a farm pay, and pay we'll.
Tt all depends upon the way you do
it. Now this rang grove of
yours"
i eBut, Mr.. Roberts," interrupted
Curtis, my oranges are f%irst-rate, and
two hundred barrels of them. 1t
isn't my fault that l can't get more
shan three dollars q barrel for them
here, OF from the New York commits
sion men. And 1 can't afford to go to
New York myself to sell them. You
see, it's the old proverb again: The
destruction of the poor is their pow
erty.
Mr.. Roberts. shook his head. cts
the poor boys that make millionaires
in the end, nevertheless, Curt; YOU
can't get round that fact. Suppose 1
gMe you an object-lesson in money
making-if you're willing, that is. I
can teach you, for instance, how to
sell those. oranges at from five to
seven dollars a barrel"
Curiis Everett looked at his
shrewd, spare, well-dressed compan-
ion in aniazcmcnt. Mr.. Roberts was
certainly in earnest, and everybody
knew that Mr.. Roberts could do very
wonderful things in the way of max
ing money. He was 4 wealthy rail-
road man, and Curtis and his mother
always welcomed the days when ne
SFstopped at their little home among
the orange groves, as he came and
vent along the line.
Nh. Roberts had been q lifelong
friend OF Curtis father, and after
Mr.. Evefett's death had helped to set
tie the small estate; and altogether
Curtis, who was Only eighteen years
old, regalSsd him as one Of the kind
est, and wiScst OF men. But this cool
remark OF. his oracle fairly took away
his breath. Seven dollars a barrel
for oranges! Why, n might as we'll
say q hundred, and be done with it!
Mr.. Roberts rather enjoyed his
young friends %incrcdulous look.
well. 10 begin with" he said, "we'll
Aago outside OF your orange grove. Do
YOU know that the crop, up and down
the States, is Tot as good as it might
be? I've noticed that, and you ought
to know it better than I, for it's part,
q largo part, Of your business. Then
most OF the packers about here are
lazy and careless. and they pack as
you do, in barrels. I would advise
you 10 begin, and you might as we'll
: do it to-day, by picking over your
two hundred barrels or oranges and
sorting out only the finest and most
aerfect mes. Wrap each orange neat
l33sin paper, and pack them in boxes,
with your name and address plainly
frst-ratc, you say"
"No better oranges in Florida, "
said Curtis, proud OF his crop. And
he was not Boosting, for when the
first box was brought up for Mr., Rob-
erts' inspection, the most fastidious
eonno!sscu: in fruit you'd have been
satisfied with the great golden globes,
juicy and firm, that filed the soft
paper wrappers.
l@Thcy'l 90. Not a cent less than
seven dollars for these" was Mr.. Rob-
erts' comment, as the box was nailed
mp. Glow many like this do you
think you will get out of the two
hundred barrels, my boy??"
AT least two hundred boxes" re-
piled Curtis, "and perhaps more. Of
course I can sell the second grade
ones for something, too"
SELL them round here, them adj
vised Mr.. Roberts, @and don't put
your name anyhere about them, as
you 90 on these selected ones. What
you want is 20 have our name mean
a No. L to every dealer who sees it
Anywhere. Do you understand" And
Curtis, as he assented, felt that the
mysteries of business were after all,
based on ommoa sense.
The boxes went off to New York In
due season, two hundred and seven
4 teen Of them. Curtis had dealt the
year before with a commission firm
Holt & Wynne, who did a good bust
Ness in that part Of Florida. Never
BARD Of them" said Mr.. Roberts,
but If you must so to a commission
man, one is about the same as an
other. I'm afraid you won't get more
than FIVE dollars among those sharks.