REPORT OF THE APPLE AND PEAR CONFERENCE. 103 



into direct communication with the consumer, and by being 

 brought into communication with the existing system of tram- 

 ways, the saving in the expense of cartage and delivery, which 

 are at all times serious items in the cost of vegetable foods, 

 would reach a total of several millions annually. Thus, not only 

 would there be a considerable saving to the community, but at 

 the same time a large amount of nutritive food would be 

 brought within the reach of the working classes, of a better con- 

 dition and fresher quality than they now receive, and the 

 receipts of the agricultural classes would be largely increased. 



It is an open question whether or not fruit growers have 

 given any thought to the matter of railway rates and charges, 

 and the conditions upon which their produce should be dealt with 

 in future by those who conduct and control our inland traffic. 

 The subject is not only of the utmost importance, but it demands 

 their urgent and incessant consideration. 



The outlet for fruits will be found in two directions, which 

 have a widely different character and necessitate different treat- 

 ment — the supply to London and the few very large towns in the 

 north, and the supply to the small towns and villages throughout 

 the kingdom. In the first we have the large concentration of 

 fruiterers, greengrocers, and costermongers, who have hitherto 

 furnished the means for reaching the public. In the second 

 they have to a great extent done without fruit, as it could not be 

 supplied in a fresh condition. Whether the fruit is intended 

 for London or the country districts, railway companies should be 

 compelled to provide effective refrigerator trucks for its con- 

 veyance, in order that its fresh condition may be fully maintained. 

 Growers know the condition of the fruit when it leaves them, 

 but they are not aware of the serious deterioration that takes 

 place in transit before reaching its destination, and the conse- 

 quent enormous depreciation that takes place in values. A few 

 hours make a great difference in the appearance and flavour of 

 fruit, and there can be no possible justification for the unneces- 

 sary loss thus caused to the grower, when the fruit could be 

 readily and inexpensively delivered in a fine and fresh condition. 



To ensure equitable arrangements in the matter of railway 

 rates, so far as fruit growers are concerned, it is not only neces- 

 sary, but of the utmost importance, to look into the various 

 descriptions of traffic, and study the absolute conditions that 

 are required to be complied with to effectively transfer their 

 produce from the orchards to consumers with the least possible 

 handling. 



To convey coals, strawberries, iron, eggs, wood, meat, mine- 

 rals, fish, and other articles of a widely distinctive character 

 by the same trains, to a great extent in the same trucks, and 

 deliverable by the same vans, and claim varying rates of pay- 

 ment, not according to the service rendered, but on the basis of 



