892 READINGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



Buy @ 3 s. 6d. per hundredweight 



Sell 1 10 lb. @ 5 lb. for 3id Difference, 2 s. 1 1 d. 



Buy @ 4 s. per hundredweight 



Sell no lb. @ 5 lb. for 3^d Difference, 2s. 5d. 



Buy @ 4 Si 6d. per hundredweight 



Sell 1 10 lb. @ 5 lb. for 3|d Difference, is. 1 1 d. 



Buy @ 4 s. 6d. per hundredweight 



Sell 1 10 lb. @ 5 lb. for 4^ d Difference, 3 s. 9 d. 



In order to get a rough estimate of the profits of the grocers, 

 6d. per hundredweight may be deducted to cover the hauling from 

 the market to the retailer's store, the rents, wages, etc. The haul- 

 ing is usually done by the grocers themselves, except in the case 

 of the small dealer who pays the following prices for the carrying 

 of his supplies to his store : for small push-cart load, by porter, 

 from 3 to 5 miles, 2 s. 6d., varying up to the large loads carried 

 by the " car men " for 4s. 6d. to 5 s. per load for the same dis- 

 tances. The resulting profit would seem to be, generally, about 

 5 s. in the ,, or 25 per cent, which was also the figure given as an 

 estimate by several grocers and others connected with the trade. 



Practically all the potatoes consumed in Manchester pass 

 through the Smithfield Market. There are two methods of tax- 

 ing those selling on the market, (a) There is a class of men 

 paying tolls. This class numbers between 300 and 400 and in- 

 cludes the growers coming from a radius of 12 to 15 miles to 

 sell their own produce and a part of the so-called " hucksters," 

 who will be mentioned later, (b) The second class, numbering 

 about 400, are regular tenants, paying an average rent of 1 s. 

 per square yard. Formerly, this was the maximum rent, but 

 four years ago a new scale of charges was put in force, with a 

 maximum of is. 6d. per square yard and a minimum of iod. 

 per square yard. The revised scale can, however, be applied only 

 to those tenants holding stalls under a new or revised contract for 

 a period of seven years following its institution, after which it will 

 be applied to all stall holders. 



All carrying in and about the market is done by porters who 

 are licensed by the Manchester corporation for 2 s. per year, and 

 in addition to this, they must make a deposit of 2S. 6d. for their 

 badges which are of copper and brass on alternate years, in order 



