THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF HARDY FRUIT GROWING. 307 
wood wool," which has been improved in quahty lately, and 
is now sold quite free from odour, at 20s. to 80s. a cwt., and 
packing paper at 5s. a ream. 
Where bushel or half-bushel baskets and large boxes are 
employed, securing return of the empties becomes an important 
matter, a charge being made upon them. Some salesmen supply 
their own baskets, but they then naturally charge a higher rate 
of commission. 
Railway Eates. — These differ considerably on different 
lines, and for the various fruits and the distances conveyed, and 
there are still some gross inconsistencies demanding correction ; 
but in a general way for large quantities, and particularly where 
several companies run into the same town, the rates are not 
outrageously unfair. The sender of small consignments is, how- 
ever, placed at a very great disadvantage. Examples will best 
illustrate the expenses under this heading. Taking four large 
cities in England, all over 100,000 population, the distances in 
miles from a certain station in the country where fruit is grown 
are in round numbers 50, 70, 150, and 180 miles respectively, 
and the charges by rail, including delivery into the markets, are 
as follows, the rate per ton in every case being for consign- 
ments over 3 cwt. : — 
Fifty Miles, — Strawberries and Raspberries, per ton, 
20s. bd. ; \ cwt., Is. ; 1 cwt.. Is. Q>d. ; 2 cwt., 2s. Id, ; 3 cwt., 
3s. Id. Gooseberries, Plums, Cherries, and Currants, 17s. Sd. 
per ton , \ cwt., lOd. ; 1 cwt.. Is. M. ; 2 cwt., 2s. ; 8 cwt., 
3s. Id, Apples, 14s. lid, per ton ; \ cwt., dd. ; 1 cwt., Is. Id. ; 
2 cwt., Is. lOd; 8 cwt., 2s. Qd, 
Seventy Miles. — Strawberries and Raspberries, 22s. lid. 
per ton. Gooseberries, Plums, Cherries, and Currants, 19s. lOd. 
per ton. Apples, IGs. id. per ton ; \ cwt., lOd.', 1 cwt.. Is. ^d. ; 
2 cwt., 2s.; 3 cwt., 2s. lid. 
One Hundred and Fifty Miles. — Strawberries and Rasp- 
berries, 34s. 8fL per ton. Gooseberries, Plums, Cherries, and 
Currants, 30s. per ton. Apples, 23s. Qd. per ton ; \ cwt., Is. Id.'j 
1 cwt.. Is. 8cZ.; 2 cwt., 2s. lld.\ 3 cwt., 4s. Id. 
One Hundred mid Eighty Miles. — Strawberries and 
Raspberries, 3Gs. Qd. per ton. Gooseberries, Plums, Cherries, 
and Currants, 81s. lOd. per ton. Apples, 255. 2(?. per ton ; 
J cwt., Is. 10d.\ 2 cwt., 3s. ld.\ 3 cwt., 4s. 4c?. 
