THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF HARDY FRUIT GROWING. 339 
England. Your Worcester Pearmains average 40 per cent, 
better, Ecklinvilles average 33 per cent, better, Peasgood's 
Nonesuch average 25 per cent, better, Kesioicks average 80 per 
cent, better, Warner's Kings average 30 per cent, better. 
Several of your varieties of Apples, such as Transparents, 
Brown's Codlins, and Maltsters I do not receive from other 
growers, but Apples similar in appearance which are sold here 
realise on an average 30 per cent, less than yours. This is 
owing to the superior eating quality of your Apples, which is 
much appreciated by any buyers who have once had the oppor- 
tunity of purchasing your fruit, and they are always eager to 
purchase your consigments, when advised by wire, even before 
they come to hand, as your packing is done honestly and can 
always be relied upon, and consequently the sales remain in the 
hands of a few large buyers. 
" The only trouble with your fruit is that the varieties do not 
last long enough for them to become generally known, which 
would increase the competition for their purchase. For instance, 
there were only about three consignments in bulk of Trans- 
parents, and the customers were quite excited for more, and were 
wilhng to pay increased prices for further lots ; this applies 
generally to all your fruit. I could easily dispose of the produce 
of thirty or forty more growers of fruit equal in quantity, quality, 
and packing at more remunerative prices than I have been able 
to send you, as this would enable the various kinds to become 
better known. 
" As to foreign competition, there is no doubt but that the 
cheap rates enable foreign competitors to place their fruit upon the 
various markets here, with the result that prices are brought much 
lower than they otherwise would be, and this must exclude a 
portion of native production from coming to market, which other- 
wise would have come if it had not been crowded out by foreign 
supplies. 
As to railway rates, at present rates are much too high ; 
with lower rates and a better Land Bill it would enable us to suc- 
cessfully compete with foreign supplies, as then farmers would 
have confidence to speculate, and would be able to keep out all 
importation of foreign Apples to this country." 
Now 30 per cent, was a profit in itself — at least growers 
thought so, although, perhaps, shopkeepers were not content 
with it. Recently they had gone in almost entirely for barrels 
