ash
sales, and pay no rents. Other dealers incur heavy operating expenses
and generally sell not for the purpose of moving a large quantity, but
for the highest price obtainable. Consequently, the movement is
restricted.

The largest profits were found usually in barreled apples. For instance,
New York B grade, two inches minimum, approximately 600 apples to the
barrel, sold for a cent each or $6 per barrel. These apples cost the
retail dealer not over $2 per barrel delivered to his store, allowance
being made for jobber's profit and drayage. The investigator saw "A
grade" fruit, 2-1/2 inches minimum, averaging about 400 apples per
barrel, which cost the retailer not over $3, being displayed for sale at
two for five cents, or $11.25 per barrel. Such prices prevailed at no
less than twenty-five retail stores visited in one day. Apples were
being offered for sale at retail all over New York City at prices
ranging from one cent each at the cheap corner fruit stands, to fifty
cents and eighty cents per dozen at the fanciest fruit stores.

In general, it may be said that the gross profits of fruit-stand vendors
range from 100 to 250 per cent. Operating expenses other than rent in
most cities except New York are not relatively high and all sales are on
a strictly cash basis; hence the net profits on good fruit are large.

Grocers catering to high-class trade buy only the best apples. Extra
fancy Jonathans, Grimes, etc., preferably 138's and 150's size, were
purchased at $1 to $1.25 per box. These apples were taken from the box
and repacked in small splint trays similar to the peach basket used in a
six-basket carrier. Each box of apples filled approximately ten trays.
Each tray sold for thirty cents; hence the box brought $3, representing
a gross profit of about $1.75. Extra fancy Delicious and Winter Banana,
72's size, purchased at $2 per box, retailed at five cents each, or
$3.60 per box. Other sizes and varieties brought corresponding prices.
No attempt was made by this class of grocers to stimulate consumption by
temporarily reducing prices.

The retail prices quoted above were maintained consistently throughout
the 1914 season, regardless of prevailing jobbing prices. The large
margins charged by the retailers, for the most part, were due apparently
to the small amount of business handled, the perishable nature of the
commodity, and the cost of operation.

An elaborate and efficient delivery service must be maintain