GRADING FOR PROFIT 



Packages and Materials 



The full significance of the term " grading," and the 

 advantages derivable from its consistent practice in a 

 methodical manner, are still unrecognised by many pro- 

 ducers who otherwise manifest much ability in the con- 

 duct of their business. Yet all our competitors in other 

 lands who export largely to this country are alive to the 

 importance of grading, and they secure a material share 

 of their profits by the keen attention devoted to the 

 subject. Why neglect should prevail here it is difficult 

 to understand or explain, for if the labour required can 

 be supplied in addition to the freightage of thousands of 

 miles' carriage over sea and land, besides all salesmen's 

 charges, it ought to be possible to obtain a margin of 

 profit close to the home markets. Where this is not 

 done it is through some lack of judgment or from the 

 work being performed in an imperfect manner. We 

 have never known an instance where a crop was of un- 

 even quality that sorting into two or even three grades 

 did not yield a better total result in money return than 

 if all were marketed together without separation. Im- 

 perfectly carried out, any attempts at sorting are certainly 

 wasted labour, but there is no substantial reason why it 

 should be done in this manner ; wilful neglect and 

 ignorance of simple matters ought to have no place in 

 present day businesses. 



Grading can be most effectually practised with fruits, 

 and if carried out in a systematic manner the expense is 



74 



