Page:Adventures in Thrift (1916).djvu/218

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After eight years other Long Island farmers took it up, and truck raisers around such cities as Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis."

"How did you figure your profits?" inquired Mr. Larry.

"That was easy," answered Mr. Fullerton. "The express company got twenty-five cents out of the dollar and fifty cents. Boxes, nails, tags and green paraffin paper, to keep out dust during shipment, amounted to twenty-seven cents more. The vegetables, therefore, brought ninety-eight cents. In order to learn exactly what we gained by using the Home Hamper over the regular commission channel, we received for an equal amount of vegetables shipped in bulk, and of the same quality, from four cents to eight cents—an average of six cents through the commission man, as against ninety-eight cents from the consumer.

"And do you mean to say that all of your customers are satisfied?" asked Teresa Moore.

Mr. Fullerton's eyes twinkled.

"Well—hardly. If a woman didn't want cauliflower or kohl-rabi she would write as if we had committed an unpardonable crime in send-