890 R LADINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



The brokers charge a commission of 2 per cent to 5 per cent 

 according to contract. The freight which is charged the shipper 

 is 7d. to 9d., and 6J d. to ?d. is charged to cover the handling 

 and canal tolls. From Manchester it was impossible to trace 

 onions farther back than the Spanish shipper. 



POTATOES IN MANCHESTER, ENGLAND 

 BY GRAFTON L. WILSON 



Place of production Near Manchester 



Place of consumption .... Manchester 



Price received by producer . . . 2 s. 6 d. to 35. 36. per cwt. 



Price paid by consumer . . . . 2d. to 5d. per 5 pounds. 



Difference (average) 2 s. 6 d. per cwt. 



Number of steps between the pro- 

 ducer and consumer .... Necessary, 2 



Usual, 2 or 3 



Possible, 5 



Price received by shipper (if any) . 60 s. to 655. per ton 



Shipper's margin 2 s. 6 d. to 35. per ton 



Price received by wholesaler . . 2 s. 9 d. to 55. per cwt. 



Wholesaler's margins 3d. to 6 d. per cwt. 



Price received by jobber (if any) . 35. to 55. 3d. per cwt. 



Jobber's margin 3d. per cwt. 



Grocer's margin (average) . . . 2s. icd. per cwt. 



The retail prices for potatoes at Manchester ranged from 5 

 pounds for 2d. to id. per pound, being usually 5 pounds for 

 either 3d. or 3|d. The lower prices were in poorer sections 

 only and were for an inferior grade of potatoes. Those at 5 

 pounds for 4d., 4jd., or 5 d. were of high quality and were 

 found only in stores catering to the middle or higher classes. 

 The cooperative stores of the Manchester Society were selling 

 at one shilling the score, which is at the rate of 5 pounds for 

 3d., and the Pendleton Society sold at is. 2d. the score or at 

 the rate of 5 pounds for 3^d. 



Rents for retail stores range from 6s. a week (1$ 123. a 

 year) in the poor sections to i a day for the larger establish- 

 ments. The average, which would represent the bulk of the trade, 

 pay ^25 to 40 per year. A man paying 2$ would pay in 



