FOR PROFIT. 127 



When a reputation has once been built up for high 

 quality, it not unfrequently happens that the produce 

 is all booked, even before it reaches the markets, at 

 a price considerably above the rates of the day. 



The packing and grading of Apples is a matter of 

 the most serious import for the future of the British 

 Fruit Trade. Success or failure rests largely upon the 

 capability of growers to adapt themselves to the more 

 modern methods of marketing, and the realization 

 that the growing of the fruit is but one-third of the 

 battle, and the infinitely more difficult question of 

 selling must be met and overcome. A bushel of bad 

 fruit costs more to pick, and as much to market as 

 an equal quantity of first-class sample. Packing in 

 branded boxes would enable a reputation to be built 

 up and secure a new opening for sale, namely, that 

 of the wholesale grocers, who will be only too glad to 

 buy English fruit if packed in a manner that they 

 can handle. The packing must be attractive, the fruit 

 uniform in quality and size, and the grower who 

 fulfils these conditions should, in a few years, be able 

 to deal direct with the wholesale grocers, thus saving 

 the intermediate profits which now press so hardly 

 upon him. 



The Author was much interested in inspecting an 

 Institution called the Hereford Co-operative Fruit 

 Grading Company, Limited, it has been now in 

 operation for two years, and is increasing in favour 

 with growers. All fruit is sold by weight and is well 

 packed and branded as Ai or qualities 1-2-3. This 

 work is done by women, and the cost appears about 

 3/- per cwt. to the growers, who must be subscribers 

 of 5/- a year, and are bound to deliver their entire 

 produce. This fruit is all box packed. 



