824 



Crate-Rod and Barrel-Hoop Trades. 



[Dec, 



and kinds of material. The poles for crate-heads, which are the 

 stout pieces forming the corner uprights of the crate, should 

 either be only thick enough for one, or just thick enough for 

 two, crate-heads. If thicker, too much labour is involved in 

 splitting them w]^. They should be straight enough for straight 

 lengths of three or four feet to be cut from them, but need not 

 be so straight as for turnery, since these would probably be 

 dearer. As to the kind of wood for the crate-heads the crate- 

 maker was indifferent, though he did not much care for fir on 

 account of its knots. 



Dutch Competition in the Barrel-Hoop Trade. — Bad trade in 

 the woodland districts is laid at the door of foreign competition. 

 It is true that Dutch willow hoops have been coming to the 

 potteries at about a quarter of the price of the English hazel 

 hoops. One firm of coopers estimated that only 30 per cent, of 

 its barrels could have English hoops at the current prices 

 (August, 1921). These would be put on the best and biggest 

 barrels, on which the extra price could be charged. Competition 

 from Holland is due to the fact that the dykes are planted with 

 willows which help to hold them up : the sale of the rods is of 

 secondary importance to the safety from floods. The Dutch 

 hoops are cheaper because they can't help growing them," said 

 one of the coopers. The greater increase of overland freights 

 in England as compared with water transport has made 

 Dutch competition especially severe since the War. For 

 example, in the spring of 1921 a bundle of English 6-ft. barrel- 

 hoops from Sussex cost 4s. 3d., including Is. for carriage, and 

 a bundle of Dutch hoops cost only Is OJd. including 7d. 

 carriage. In consequence, although the English hazel hoops are 

 far superior to the Dutch willow hoops, coopers can only use them 

 on the best and most expensive barrels. Som.etimes a barrel has 

 a couple of English hoops as well as the Dutch ones, to give extra 

 strength. Hazel hoops are stronger and more durable than 

 willow, and will stand storing when dry. Willow is only suitable 

 for use while green. Thus it is seen that foreign competition, 

 severely as it hits the English hazel barrel-hoop trade, yet leaves 

 room for a certain proportion of English goods owing to their 

 superior quality. The proportion will vary according to the 

 condition of trade in the pottery and other dry-goods trades 

 using barrels for packing. 



Relative Demand for Barrel-Hoops and Crate-Rods. — The 



market for English barrel-hoops and crate-rods might be im- 



