

Grading, Packing, and Marketing. 383 



In spite of this drawback, however, there is not the least 

 doubt that proper grading and careful packing does pay well, 

 by ensuring returns far greater than recoups the grower for 

 extra expense entailed. That this is so is becoming generally 

 recognised, and the day is probably not far distant when dirty, 

 ungraded, or slovenly consignments will receive scant respect 

 in, or may even be refused admission to, the most important 

 markets. 



An attractive appearance is one of the most potent factors 

 in inducing ready sales. It does not need a very keen faculty of 

 observation to be aware of the favourable effect which a good 

 appearance has upon the general public. This may be seen in 

 every department of life, but in nothing is it more noticeable 

 than in the purchase of food-stuffs. An article of only moderate 

 or even of poor quality if attractive in appearance will sell 

 much more readily and often at a higher price than one of 

 superior quality which is offered in an untempting or repellant 

 way. This fact importers of foreign produce have been quick 

 to discover and take advantage of, and if home growers are 

 to hold their own against the constantly-increasing volume of 

 importations it behoves them to follow the same course. 



The first point, therefore, which the grower needs to get 

 firmly fixed in his mind in connection with marketing is that 

 a good appearance has a distinct cash value. 



Imported produce of many kinds has now gained a com- 

 manding position in our markets, and in many cases, even in 

 competition with the same variety of home-grown produce, 

 buyers show a decided preference for it. The cause of the 

 preference does not lie in the superior quality of the importa- 

 tions, because oftener than not the advantage in that respect 

 is on the side of the home productions; nor is attractiveness 

 the only reason. There are several causes, of which attractive 

 packing is certainly one, but another and an equally important 

 cause is reliability. When a certain weight, number or quantity 

 is specified, or when a number of packages are sold by the 

 sample of the top layer of one, the purchaser of imported 

 produce is fairly certain in the great majority of cases of 

 getting what he pays for, both in quantity and quality. With 

 home-grown produce the reverse is often the case weight 



