Vegetable Growing for Market 67 



a presentable condition after the delay and knocking about often incident 

 to this method of transport. During the hot months of summer par- 

 ticularly, and to a less extent all the year round, the object should be 

 to get the vegetables to market as quickly as possible, and to preserve 

 on them as much of the bloom and freshness of the garden as possible. 



There is a vast increase in the demand for vegetables waiting to 

 express itself when they can be got on to the table of the town pur- 

 chaser in a similar condition of freshness and crispness to that enjoyed 

 by the consumer who has them direct from his own private garden. 

 It is true that large districts where market gardening is the vogue, in 

 Worcestershire and Bedfordshire, as well as other parts of the country, 

 depend entirely upon the railways to distribute their produce. This 

 fact does not traverse the opinion that he who would start out in the 

 enterprise of growing vegetables for profit will be well advised to settle, 

 in preference, where his produce, without further handling, can be carried 

 in his own vehicles to the market where it is to be distributed to the 

 retailers. 



The introduction of mechanical road transport has considerably ex- 

 tended the definition of what is "convenient distance". The horse walk- 

 ing at 2J to 3 ml. per hour, in point of time as well as in point of 

 physical endurance makes 20 ml. from market the utmost limit, and 

 that only where the roads are good. If mechanical traction be installed, 

 the limit is easily- extended to 30 ml. or more, depending still some- 

 what on the character of the roads to be traversed. 



Horse versus Motor. On the question of horse against motor for 

 transport, it may be set down that within a distance of 10 ml. the 

 supremacy of the horse is unchallenged, from 12 to 15 ml. the motor has 

 an advantage, from 15 to 20 ml. the motor increases its advantage, 

 from 20 ml. upward the horse is impossible. 



It would be of great advantage to have reliable figures of the com- 

 parative cost. These are most difficult, however, to obtain. Where they 

 are given, too much reliance should not be placed upon them, unless all 

 the conditions of user in each case are clearly stated. The horse when 

 at home can be used upon the land. How much is allowed for that? 

 The horse when not at work is eating. Is that reckoned? The motor 

 is of no use on the land, and, when there is no hauling to be done, no 

 matter how pressing is the work on the land, stands idly by. Is that 

 fact discounted? In busy times the motor has no physical endurance to 

 consider, and can keep on working provided drivers are available. Is 

 that credited? If there could always be a return load the cost per ton 

 per mile for motor transport would be materially lessened, because the 

 difference in wear and tear and fuel between coming back loaded and 

 empty is small as regards the motor, while the load back will take a 

 good deal out of the horses. 



Someone has given the comparative cost as 8d. per mile for the 

 horse and 4d. for the motor. It may be taken that, provided there is 



