THE DISTRIBUTION OF PRODUCE 131 



which has been grown within a short distance of their 

 own shops. We have thus known crops carted 14 

 miles, to and from a market, when about one mile 

 would have taken them from the ground to the retailer. 

 The extra expense incurred and the time wasted in 

 such a round-about method are against the interests of 

 the grower, and the condition of the produce (or the 

 price) is certainly not improved for the benefit of the 

 consumer. 



Communication must be established with customers, 

 and a regular system of delivery adopted to ensure a 

 reliable trade in connection with shopkeepers, and well 

 graded produce in moderate size packages is the best 

 suited for the business. It is the uncertainty of the 

 desired supplies and qualities being received when 

 required which induces many shopkeepers to prefer 

 the expense and labour of fetching their goods from 

 market to the risk of being disappointed by the grower's 

 failure to meet his wants. The question of current 

 prices also gives rise to disputes in this system, and if 

 either party is over-reaching or misinformed, difficulty is 

 certain to arise. When a retailer goes to a market, if 

 the price or quality in one case does not satisfy him, he 

 tries other salesmen, until he procures what he needs. 

 Producers who are anxious to develop a direct business 

 should always keep this in mind, and with the exercise 

 of discretion it is possible to gradually form a reliable 

 and profitable trade. 



Under some circumstances it may answer the grower's 

 purpose to have one or more shops of his own, but 

 considerable caution is needed in entering upon this 

 department of business or the results may be disastrous. 

 In the first place, a responsible person must always be in 

 charge ; other labour will be also needed, with probably 

 horses and carts. The expenses are consequently 

 heavy, and unless it has been proved that a good opening 



