92 



PRICES RECEIVED FOR GRAPES, 



still, dry atmosphere, if possible without fire heat : in this way many 

 tons of Grapes are kept fresh and plump until the very end of 

 March, most successfully. At Messrs. Kochford's, in the month of 

 February last, 1892, we observed over twenty tons of Grapes in fine 

 condition, still hanging on the Vines. 



Prices. These vary according to season, and supply and demand. 

 In our last edition, in 1886, we were favoured by Messrs. Webber, 

 of Covent Garden, with the following list of prices taken from their 

 sale book, showing such prices as were received during that year : 



January 

 February . . . 

 March (began) 

 ,, (ended) 

 April (old) ... 



,, (new) 

 May 

 June 

 July 

 August 

 September 

 October 

 November 

 December 

 May 

 June 

 July 

 August 

 September 

 October 

 November 

 December 



Best Black 3/-, 3/6, 4/- 



/-, 

 /-, 



12/- 

 12/- 



-, 2/3, 



Second Black, 2/- f 2/9 

 2/6, 3/- 



3/6, 4/- 

 2/-, 2/6 



Best Muscats 



1/6, 



1/6, 



1/6, 



2/- 



2/6, 



6/-, 



/-, 



3/6 

 3/6 

 3/6 



2/-, 2/6 

 2/-, 2/d 

 2/6, 3/- 

 8/- 

 8/- 



, 

 -/9 I/-, 1/3 



/, V% 1/3 



-/, V- 



l/-, 1/5, 1/9 

 1/9 



Second Muscats 2/-, 2/6 



, 



1/9, 

 2/tf, 



We then stated that these prices were from " 25 to 50 per cent, 

 lower than they were in 1876, and would probably still decline." 

 They have actually done so, the prices from Messrs. Webber's books of 

 last year (1891) being 25 per cent, lower in every month (excepting 

 October) than in 1886, and the tendency is still downward, although 

 the prices at the present time seem to be as low as it would appeal- 

 possible for tbem to pay, even with skill and capital combined. 

 The chief growers do not, however, trouble themselves much after 

 sensation prices. They base their calculations on the actual costs 

 and gross returns ; and argue thus, that to sell a ton of Grapes at two 

 shillings or three shillings per pound is better than, as formerly, to 

 sell a few hundred pounds at ten shillings or twenty shillings per 

 pound prices which were practically beyond the reach of the con- 

 sumers. Cheap prices now enable retail fruiterers to maintain a 

 supply on sale at all times, thus increasing the consumption. 



This fall in prices has a tendency to induce growers to crop too 

 heavily, and in this way the general quality of the Grapes is not 

 maintained. 



