1922.] 



Hereford Fruit Market. 



763 



The following note has been communicated by Mr. N. B. 

 Bagenal, until recently one of the Ministry's Inspectors : — 

 Hereford Fruit ^ n ^ nl:eres ^ m o experiment in methods of 

 Market : Sale of marketin 8 is bein S carried 0llt this season 

 rn t j t i. by the Hereford Fruit Market, which for 

 Guaranteed Lots • , , L , ' ^ ~ 



c many years has been controlled by the Cor- 



^ ^ ' poration of that City. The bulk of the fruit 

 is marketed in wicker pot-baskets manufactured by the Corpora- 

 tion from osiers grown on the Town Sewage Works, and hired 

 out to the vendors at 2d. per week. 



During last season, considerable difficulty was experienced at 

 the weekly sales, owing to the number of lots being too large for 

 displaying in rows under shelter. To meet this difficulty, 

 arrangements have this year been made to supply with the pot- 

 basket a withy cover, not attached to the pot, but easily attach- 

 able. Fruit so packed is stacked on arrival, and one pot from 

 each lot is exposed as a sample. By stacking, it is found pos- 

 sible to accommodate at least twice as many packages under 

 cover as it was when all were exposed. 



To allow of sale by sample, an official label is issued to all 

 vendors who use the withy cover. To each pot marketed under 

 this system, is attached one of these labels bearing a guarantee 

 of variety, grade, and net weight of fruit, filled in and signed 

 by the grower, and giving his address. To meet the demands of 

 growers for non-returnable packages, the Market Authorities 

 supply the British Federation Standard Box (40 lb.) made up, or 

 in the flat. These are sold to the vendor at a trifle over cost 

 price, and a charge of 5d. is made to the purchaser. It is pro- 

 posed to hold three special box sales during the course of the 

 season. 



The Market Authorities retain responsibility for all purchased 

 lots, until they are delivered, ready packed, to the local repre- 

 sentatives of the various railways, whose vans come to the market 

 during and after the sale to collect the fruit. In this way the 

 purchasers are spared all trouble with regard to the packing and 

 despatch of their fruit from the market, and to those who come 

 from a distance this is a distinct advantage. 



It is to be noted that the Market Authorities have not 

 attempted to enforce the system of sale by sample to the exclu- 

 sion of the former method. Fruit is still sold in pots without 

 covers or in any reasonable form of package ; but when the 

 withy cover is used in conjunction with the pot-basket, then the 

 guarantee label must be used also. 



