I HAVE frequently been asked the question - "Who buys all the grapes that come to the New York market?" and I am induced to give your readers some information on this point, in order to explain many of the differences in sales as reported by the various commission merchants.

Some growers think that beause a dealer can get one price for one mark of fruit, he ought to get the same price for all, particularly when the quantity closely resembles each other. They appear to forget that the purchaser has any voice in the matter at all, when in fact, as a general thing, they are masters of the situation.

In the first place, the parties who receive the fruit are known as commission merchants, whose business it is to receive all that comes, be it much or little, and then are expected to know the value of everything when it arrives. When fruit is scarce the dealers command the position, but in years of plenty he can only use discretion in disposing of the stock sent him, and in order to dispose of all that he receives, he must have a variety of customers, who demand various grades, varieties and qualities for their customers, and it is this class that I propose touching upon.

The first in order, in regard to the quantity and quality they purchase, are those known as " jobbers," that is, they buy in large quantities to sell again. In many cases these men secure a large trade from persons living in the outside cities and country towns where the grapes are not grown, or, if at all, to a very limited extent. These retailers send their orders to these jobbers for such fruit as they may want, and in this way the fruit is scattered all over the country. The jobbers also supply the other classes known as retailers. There are jobbers in distant cities that procure their supply direct from the commission merchants.

The retail trade is divided in about the following order for fruit and character. The first in order are those grocers and fruit dealers who transact their business in all the most prominent and wealthy parts of the city, and deal exclusively with the wealthy. These are known as our " first class " customers, and those unacquainted with the trade would reasonably suppose that they were a very desirable class of customers, but that is an error, for they buy in small quantities, are very particular as to the quality, and will not pay any more for it than some of the lower class of dealers. In plain words, it amounts to this, what they will buy any one will, and pay as much for it; these persons prefer to purchase the three and four pound boxes.

The great mass of good sound fruit is sold to the grocers and those persons doing business in the various markets, public and private, throughout the city. The grocers are mostly Germans and Americans, and prefer purchasing their fruit in bulk, without the loss arising from the weight of the small boxes. The river box, containing from twenty to forty pounds, are their favorites, as they weigh all their grapes to their cus-tomers. The Germans, in particular, are prejudiced against the small boxes; they are not particular about the name or color of the fruit if it is cheap, but would prefer having them black, as then they think they are ripe. The marketmen generally prefer the small boxes, as they do not weigh out their fruit.

The next in order is the female street venders. To strangers they present a novel appearance, who frequently pauzing to gaze, are induced to purchase. In order to com-mence business they purchase a large oval basket with flaring sides, closely resembling a clothes basket, which will contain a hundred pounds or more; then they make a board platform to fit down in the basket from six to eight inches, and on this false bottom they place the fruit, piled up so as to give it the appearance of being a large bulk. They select the most public thoroughfares, where they will place their baskets, and then begin their cry, "Yer's your nice fine grapes, only ten cents a pound." In some of the most public places around Washington market, quite a number can be seen in a group, and in-some instances they will extend their baskets half way across the street,and their united voices, in soliciting your patronage, is really annoying. Most of these women are of Irish birth, and possess remarkably well developed muscular bodies, and it is an easy task for many of them to carry off on their heads one of the 100 lb. cases of grapes; and I have known some of them to march off with two 60 lb. cases at once.

This class is very valuable to the commission dealer, for they buy the inferior grades of fruit, and when damaged but slightly they will pay more for it than the lower grades of wagon peddlers, which come next in order among the dealers. There are also grades among this class of persons; the better class are generally respectable men, and drive good establishments, their wagons being always neatly and sometimes very tastefully ornamented. The horses are in good condition, and many of them of the fancy order.

The lower class in this line of business are mostly young men and boys of doubtful reputation and small means. Their establishments correspond with their finances, and are a sight, to behold. Many of their horses are of the order known as "Herrings," and although they possess the usual number of bones belonging to a horse, you often find them without the use of one, if not two legs, and it must be a fortunate creature if it possesses both eyes. In regard to the flesh of the animals we will say nothing, as it is seldom they possess any.

The wagons and harness never disgrace the animals, and should the entire concern be set up at auction, it would be sorry fun for a man to bid $10 on it, if he did not want it. They will buy anything you have to sell, their principal object seems to be to get the largest quantity for the least money, and the dealer must be careful to get his pay before loading, for if he does not, the chances are that they will cheat him in some way or another.

We have another class of buyers of grapes, known as vine men, who, for prices, compare with the lower grades of wagoners. Thus, by and with the aid of these parties, they are enabled to dispose of the large quantities of grapes sent to market.

New York. , C. W. IDELL.