THE MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCTS 885 



The necessity for cooperation in agriculture and market gardening in order 

 to secure the best results to producer and the most favourable conditions for 

 the consumer are becoming more and more evident, and the committee ask all 

 farmers and fruit-growers to increasingly support this society, which is practi- 

 cally the only organisation at present available for the disposal of produce on 

 a cooperative basis in the London markets. 



To better understand the selling methods we will trace potatoes, 

 a typical vegetable, from the consumer back to the producer. 



Most of the potatoes sold in London are sold through small 

 greengrocers who deal only in fruit and vegetables. Their meth- 

 ods of selling are practically the same as those of Manchester. 

 Retail prices vary considerably from time to time, but naturally 

 are not so sensitive as wholesale prices. The price varies from 

 5 pounds for 4d. (i| cents per pound) to 4 pounds for 2d. 

 (i cent per pound). Very good quality King Edwards could be 

 had for 4 pounds for 3d. (i| cents per pound) during the latter 

 part of August, 191 3. Nearly all of the retailers bought directly 

 from the wholesalers in the markets at prices ranging from 90s. 

 a ton (.965 cents per pound) to 60s. a ton (.643 cents per pound). 

 Specific cases were noted where potatoes bought at 80s. a ton or 

 4s. a hundredweight sold at 4 pounds for 3d. or 7s. a hundred- 

 weight (112 pounds). Thus the grocer made 3 s. a hundredweight. 

 Another case was noted where potatoes bought at 70s. a ton (or 

 3s. 6d. a hundredweight) sold for 4 pounds for 2d. or 4s. 8d. 

 a hundredweight. The profit in this case is, of course, is. 2d. 

 (or 28 cents) a hundredweight. The grocer's profit varies con- 

 siderably. Very often his hundredweight sack of potatoes will not 

 weigh 112 pounds, for the potatoes are bought at wholesale by 

 measure instead of by weight. Some grocers do not weigh out 

 their potatoes accurately and so lose by overweight. This over- 

 weight is harder to avoid with large potatoes than with small ones. 



With the dealers in general vegetables, potatoes are sold in the 

 same way as other vegetables. But since so many more potatoes 

 are sold than of any other one vegetable, some merchants sell 

 nothing but potatoes. At the Kings Cross railway station there 

 is a market where nothing but potatoes is sold. The ordinary 

 dealer sells his stuff by standing in front of his shop and naming 



