882 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



them, the upper portion of the sides of the cars being open. The 

 fruit is forwarded at Boulogne, by agents who charge 5 centimes 

 per sieve for their services. The entire shipment takes a little 

 less than three days. The freight from Boulogne to London is 

 50s. the ton. Some of the harder fruit is shipped by boat via 

 Bordeaux, but by far the greater part is sent via Boulogne. 



The freight from Agen to Paris is 1 10 francs the ton. A con- 

 siderable business is also done in shipping by parcel post, for 

 which the prices are as follows : 



DELIVERED AT STATION DELIVERED AT DOMICILE 



3 kilos ... 60 centimes 3 kilos . . . . 85 centimes 



5 kilos . . . 80 centimes 5 kilos .... 1.05 francs 



10 kilos . . . 1.25 francs 10 kilos .... 1.50 francs 



The London wholesalers sell French gages on a commission 

 of 5 per cent with an additional charge of 2d.-3d. per half-sieve 

 for cartage handling, and market toll. The wholesale price in 

 191 3 was exceptionally high, varying from 8 s. to 12 s. a half-sieve. 



French gages brought from 6d. to iod. per pound (usually 8d.) 

 at retail in London in bulk. The better-grade fruit was often re- 

 packed in small boxes with cotton and sold at 2 s. per box and up. 



In the middle of August,, 191 3, gages were sold at wholesale 

 in Lyons, at the very high price of 80 and 90 francs the 100 kilos, 

 for average fruit. They were retailing at 1.20 and 1.40 francs 

 the kilo. 



The freight for gages to Manchester from the French growing 

 sections is 2 s. or 2 s. 6d. the half-sieve. In 19 13 the few gages 

 that were put on the market brought from 8 to 10s. at wholesale. 



