550 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



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 the neighbourhood send their 

 produce every week, and to which the whole countryside resorts to obtain 

 their week's provisions. 



86. The market facilities and distribution of fruit in Scotland were 

 stated by Mr. Russell to be satisfactory. 



87. There have been few complaints as to market tolls being unduly 

 onerous, though one witness said that at Covent Garden they were 

 excessive. This, however, appears to have been an individual opinion, 

 and was not supported by other witnesses. It is possible that in some 

 cases a revision of tolls would be an advantage, the existing scale having 

 been fixed at a time when the fruit trade was very different from what it 

 is at present. 



88. Co-operation for distribution has been adopted in some cases, 

 notably at Blairgowrie by the Fruit Growers' Association there, as 

 described by Mr. Hodge. Each member of this Association sends his 

 produce to the secretary of the Association, who then consigns it to the 

 various markets in bulk, according to the information which he has 

 received as to the requirements of the markets. Such information is, 

 naturally, more complete than that which could be obtained by each 

 individual grower ; overstocking an already glutted market may thus be 

 avoided and better prices realised. An average price is struck, and the 

 growers are paid on that basis, less a percentage deducted to pay the 

 expenses of the working of the Association. The advantages of this plan 

 are obvious, and the Committee are of opinion that it would be to the 

 benefit of growers if similar co-operative societies were started in other 

 districts. But it is not easy to persuade British farmers to co-operate, 

 and there appear to be special difficulties in the case of fruit. A grower 

 whose fruit is above the average, and who takes trouble about packing 

 and grading, might be unwilling to pool it with that of less careful 

 growers. But, at any rate, co-operation may be usefully employed, as at 

 Blairgowrie, where fruit is grown mainly for jam-making, and where 

 special packing and grading are not necessary ; in such cases it is strongly 

 to be recommended. 



89. Whatever improvements may be effected in markets, it is probable 

 that they will still leave much to be done in the way of fruit distribution. 

 Even in fruit-growing counties it is often difficult to obtain a proper 

 supply of fruit, just as fish is often unobtainable at seaside places. Certain 

 firms, especially in the Evesham district, are doing a considerable business 

 in supplying the consumers direct with fruit in boxes. The direct 

 distribution of fruit is, however, not such a simple matter as that of fish ; 

 for the supply is not so constant, either in character or in amount, and, 



