PREPARING PRODUCE FOR SALE 61 



companies, or may arise from accidents out of the 

 grower's control, but in a large proportion it is mainly 

 due to the producer's neglect or bad system. The 

 difference in the state of all the softer produce when 

 gathered in early morning, as compared with that of 

 similar crops collected later in the day under a hot sun, 

 or in a drying wind, is conspicuous long before the 

 consumer is reached. The ideal arrangement is to 

 gather early and have the produce on sale the same 

 morning, and where this can be realised the grower has 

 overcome an enormous impediment in the road to success. 

 Under the usual roundabout methods of marketing this 

 can only be carried out within a moderate distance of 

 the selling centre; if a long journey by train is an un- 

 avoidable part of the programme, it is rare that the goods 

 can be on sale until the following morning. When 

 transmitted by passenger train, or by special arrange- 

 ments for such fruits as Strawberries, long distances 

 can be reached the same day and sales effected under 

 the right conditions, provided the consignments are of 

 sufficient value to pay for the expense. 



Amongst ordinary crops, which constitute the bulk of 

 market consignments throughout the spring, summer, 

 and autumn months, the majority are gathered in the 

 afternoon or evening of the day preceding that when 

 they are to be sold. In the hottest weather all soft, 

 young, and tender green vegetables or salads are then 

 in a semi-exhausted state, which results in a flabby 

 appearance that is far from inviting. Some advantage 

 is gained if such crops can be gathered quite late in the 

 evening, when they have had time to partially recover 

 from the effects of the day's heat, but with few 

 exceptions the early morning has everything in its 

 favour. Instances have occurred in my experience 

 where early gathered consignments of the same crop 

 have been sold in the next morning's market together 



