432 Establishment of Markets for Fruit, [oct., 



market grew out of this, which the proprietors of the district 

 converted into a formal one, and which has now become a 

 market of considerable importance. 



The Committee say it can scarcely be doubted that if a 

 similar opportunity for starting a market occurred in other 

 suburbs of London, a similar demand for fruit would be found 

 to exist there, or would be created by the opportunity afforded. 



With regard to the extension of provincial markets, it is 

 pointed out that there are towns of 100,000 inhabitants which 

 have no markets deserving the name. The multiplication of 

 large provincial markets would, no doubt, be of much import- 

 ance in relieving gluts to the great advantage of growers. 

 Two instances are quoted in illustration of the development of 

 provincial markets, viz., Birmingham and Hereford, Thirty 

 years ago the former was quite small, but it has been repeatedly 

 enlarged, and has now become an important distributing centre. 

 That at Hereford has proved of immense importance to the 

 growers, who there find customers for their produce in bulk, and 

 who, according to Mr. Meats, the salesman for the Corporation, 

 make double the prices which they used to do before the market 

 was started. This market was but little appreciated at first, 

 but is now recognized to be of much importance to the county. 

 It is managed for the Corporation by a committee, and the 

 committee supply the growers with boxes for their produce 

 at a low charge. 



In regard to the small retail markets in country towns, 

 the Committee observe that there appears to be room for 

 much improvement. These markets are in many cases held 

 in the open streets, where the sellers are fully exposed to the 

 weather, and where, as might be naturally expected, no good 

 produce or well-to-do growers are likely to be found. If these 

 markets were suitably covered, a considerable increase in trade 

 would doubtless result, for the small grower cannot send to 

 large markets with much chance of good profit, owing to the 

 heavier rates on small quantities and to the fact that small 

 consignments do not admit of his name getting known on the 

 market. His proper market is the local market. A favourable 

 instance of a retail local market, which has been mentioned to 

 the Committee, is that of Barnstaple, to which the farmers in 



