igo6.] The Herefofd Fruit-Grading Society. 175 



Worcester between Mr. J, Nugent Harris (the Secretary of the 

 Agricultural Organization Society) and Messrs. Riley and 

 Bulmer, in the course of which Mr. Harris recommended the 

 Committee to approach the Great Western Railway Company 

 in the hope that they would provide premises for the under- 

 taking. A meeting was arranged between Mr, T. H. Rendell, 

 the Chief Goods Manager of the Great Western Railway, and 

 Messrs. Riley and Bulmer, when Mr. Rendell expressed his 

 willingness to assist the project. An admirable site served by 

 a siding was suggested by Mr. Rendell, and the Directors of the 

 Great Western Railway Company finally consented to erect a 

 depot and provide facilities for the working of the proposed 

 Society. 



Special rules were drafted and a prospectus drawn up inviting 

 subscriptions of preference shares to the value of ^500, the 

 ordinary shares being fixed at 5s. fully paid up and being 

 unlimited in number. When the Society was" registered, the 

 Committee secured the services, as manager, of Mr. W. H. Press, 

 of Newport, who had had great experience in the distributing 

 fruit trade, and temporary premises were opened early in 

 September for the receipt of the members' fruit. Subsequently 

 the business was removed to the commodious depot provided 

 by the Great Western Railway Company. 



The classes of fruit chiefly dealt with are apples (other than 

 cider apples) and pears. These are carefully graded and 

 different prices are fixed for each grade, a member being paid 

 according to the amount realized by the fruit in each grade 

 received from him. 



Particular attention is also paid to the packing, and the 

 importance of both grading and packing are shown in the 

 enhanced prices which the Society has been able to realize for 

 the fruit. 



Two examples may be given of this. One member, observing 

 the difference between the ordinary market price and the price 

 which the Society was able to pay, bought, as a speculation, a 

 quantity of apples, for which he paid £26 in Hereford Market. 

 He then sold them through the Society, which, after grading 

 them, realized such prices upon them that they were able to pay 

 him £2,0 (or them. 



