54 AN AGRICULTURAL FAGGOT. 



is that the trouble of enumerating and checking the 

 entries of articles, of examining the dimensions of baskets, 

 etc., is avoided, and fewer disputes are likely to arise. 

 On the other hand, the substitution of a system of stallage 

 in place of toll tends to suppress the small producer and 

 to drive all the trade into the hands of the middlemen. 

 The cottager with his basket of eggs, or the small farmer 

 or gardener with his load of vegetables, cannot afford 

 to rent a stall, and is consequently compelled — under 

 a uniform system of stallage — to reach the consumer 

 through the stall-holder. 



Tolls and stallage are quite distinct, and may both be 

 charged in the same market. In fact, the proceeds of 

 each might belong to a different person. There is no 

 reason, therefore, either historically or practically — so 

 far as appears — why both systems should not continue, 

 as in many cases they do, side by side in the same market. 



An attempt has been made, though with very partial 

 success, to ascertain the ratio which tolls bear to the 

 prices of commodities sold in the markets. Most of the 

 market owners from whom information was sought 

 either ignored that particular inquiry, or, if they 

 attempted an answer, replied " infinitesimal " or " im- 

 possible to say." A little information is forthcoming 

 with regard to some of the chief London markets, from 

 which it appears that, at the Central Meat Market, the 

 toll amounts to ^y of the price. At Deptford Foreign 

 Cattle Market the toll ranges from g§ in the case of 

 calves to -fa in the case of bullocks. At the Metropolitan 

 Cattle Market the ratio is very much less, ranging from 

 gi-Q for calves to T ^ for bullocks. At Birmingham the 

 toll on potatoes is ^ of the price (or 8d. in the £), 

 and on butter ^. Generally speaking, on high-priced 

 articles sold in considerable bulk the toll is inappreciable ; 

 but on others, such as baskets of vegetables, eggs, butter, 

 etc., it bears a more serious proportion. 



The rights under which markets are held being, to say 



