THE JAM INDUSTRY 53 



them to show a distinct 'preference for British over 

 foreign fruit, provided the home producers can let 

 them have precisely what they want. 



Already, as it happened, the considerable expansion 

 in the fruit-growing industry throughout Great Britain 

 had put it in the power of the home producers to meet 

 better than they were able to do before the wants of the 

 jam-makers; and one result of the dual change is that 

 the whole business has been practically reorganized, 

 and placed on a footing more satisfactory for everyone 

 concerned. At one time very little fruit was sent direct 

 to the preservers, who relied mainly on such supplies 

 as they found in the markets. Under the altered con- 

 ditions the jam-makers visit the fruit-growing districts 

 early in the season, learn what the prospects are, and 

 make contracts, which become approximately uniform 

 prices for the trade. This procedure has, of course, only 

 been possible since the increase in the production of fruit 

 at home ; but the result is beneficial, not only directly 

 to the fruit-grower, who knows in advance what he 

 will get for his crop, but also to the jam-makers, who 

 all, practically, buy their English fruit at the same 

 price, and are less likely to undersell one another in 

 consequence of one, say, having been able to buy at 

 6 a ton on the Manchester market owing to a tem- 

 porary ' glut ' there fruit for which a competitor in 

 another town has had to pay 10 a ton. 



Healthier conditions have thus been introduced all 

 round. Prices are steadier for the jam-makers, who 

 are learning to depend more and more on British and 

 less and less on foreign supplies; and the fruit-pro- 

 ducers at home, dealing direct with the jam-makers, 

 not only find an outlet with them for enormous quanti- 

 ties of fruit, but, by keeping these quantities off the 

 open market, stand to gain a better price for what 



