76 THE BOOK OF MARKET GARDENING 



Pears, Plums, Cherries, Peaches, Strawberries, Rasp- 

 berries, Gooseberries, Currants, Grapes, Figs, Tomatoes, 

 and Cucumbers all admit of grading if only in two 

 qualities ; while the majority of vegetables, particularly 

 those producing pods, or roots and tubers, can be 

 similarly sorted with equal profit. Though the bulk of 

 a sample is reduced by the removal of the second and 

 third-rate produce, it often happens that the returns are 

 increased in all grades by the course taken. The selling 

 value of a mixed sample is based upon the inferior 

 specimens it contains, and not upon the best ; besides, 

 when in contrast with finer fruits or vegetables in one 

 box or basket the poorer samples are seen to the worst 

 advantage and do not command the price they would do 

 when constituting a separate grade. 



The Board of Agriculture now issues a weekly return 

 of market prices of farm and garden produce, and in this 

 actual selling prices of the latter are given for nine markets 

 — namely, London, Bristol, Evesham, Birmingham,Wolver- 

 hampton, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow. 

 Fruits and vegetables are included in these returns, the 

 leading varieties of apples, pears, and potatoes being named 

 separately. The prices are given for two qualities in 

 nearly every case, and a comparison of these returns 

 affords some interesting facts with regard to the quality 

 range of prices for the same varieties, in the same markets, 

 at similar periods. In few cases is the difference between 

 first and second less than 20 per cent, increase on the 

 lower value ; in many it varies from 30 to 50 per cent., 

 and in some instances it is even loo per cent. Of course 

 these do not represent grades of one crop or from one 

 grower, and it is probable that some of those sales are 

 recorded concerning consignments that have never been 

 sorted at all, but they serve to illustrate the subject here 

 referred to, namely, the variation in price that is caused 

 by differences in quality. 



