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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



black tarpaulins (which absorb much heat) pressing down on the fruit 

 and preventing ventilation ; on the other hand, he stated that the vehicles 

 used on passenger trains were suitable and good. 



Mr. Sinclair also complained of the sheeted waggons, and said that 

 the service of trains from Prestonkirk to Edinburgh was very bad. 



Mr. Hodge stated that until lately there was no such thing as a 

 ventilated waggon at Blairgowrie station, but that now they had some ; 

 and he added that they wanted refrigerator cars also. 



On the other hand, Mr. Berry said that the fast train traffic from Kent 

 to the North of England was well manipulated, and that he was well 

 satisfied with the waggons. 



Mr. Lobjoit said the supply of vans was sufficient, so far as his 

 experience went. 



Mr. Idiens spoke highly of the new covered and ventilated goods vans 

 put on by the Midland Railway. 



Mr. Russell said that a good service was wanted, but he added that 

 he could not complain much about it. 



The chief of these grievances appears to be the character of the goods 

 waggons, and there can be no doubt that the ordinary low waggons with 

 the black sheets pressing on the fruit, and with no ventilation, are most 

 unsuitable. To get over this difficulty certain railways now have what are 

 called " sheet supporters," which keep the sheets away from the fruit and 

 allow a current of air to pass over it. The new ventilated goods vans 

 introduced by the Midland Railway, some of which the Committee had 

 the opportunity of inspecting at Evesham, are a still greater improvement, 

 and appear to give complete satisfaction. The Committee were informed 

 that the Great Western Railway proposes to build similar vans for its 

 fruit traffic, and they would be glad if other companies could see their 

 way to do the same. The practice of running special services of trains 

 appears to be established in some of the principal fruit-growing districts 

 during the season. 



55. (h) As to the next of the grievances mentioned above — the delay 

 in the carriage of empties — instances have been mentioned to the Com- 

 mittee in which empties, despatched for the marketing of a crop, were not 

 delivered until one month afterwards, and not until the crop had been 

 gathered and sold. Empties, no doubt, are generally conveyed at a very 

 low rate, but delays such as this may be a serious matter to the grower, 

 and should certainly not occur ; they imply culpable negligence on the 

 part of the carrier. The handling of empties on the lines also appears to 

 be extremely rough and to admit of much improvement. 



56. (i) Perhaps the most difficult of the railway grievances is that 

 connected with the payment of claims made by growers in consequence 

 of loss or damage while their produce is in transit. In the case of fruit 

 this is a matter of great importance, as so much fruit sent by rail is 

 perishable in character. The question is greatly complicated by the fact 

 that fruit (like other articles) can generally be sent either at company's 

 risk or at owner's risk. When goods are sent at company's risk the 

 company is under the ordinary liability of a carrier ; and in case of any 

 loss or damage the companies are liable if it can be shown that they 

 have not done what might reasonably be expected of them. But the 



