64 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



transhipped from rail on to motor wagon for conveyance to market 

 salesman without rehandling. With produce bulked and ready at 

 the forwarding stations, trains could be run at times convenient for 

 the proper dealing with the produce, and loss from late arrivals should 

 be rare occurrences. 



The scales of rates should be radically revised. The whole com- 

 munity has just reason to complain of the present antiquated classi- 

 fication — whicli dates from the time, when — for instance — tomatos 

 were a curiosity and no imagination pictured them in tons. The 

 unjust conditions of the owner's risk rate, which free the railway 

 companies of the ordinary carrier's responsibility, should be amended 

 in favour of a reasonable charge and reasonable conditions comparable 

 to the service demanded of the company, and imposing upon them 

 and their servants responsibility — not for wilful negligence only — 

 which can never be proved — but for culpable carelessness also. 



In times of " glut " special low rates should be put in force for 

 produce loaded in bulk, so that the consumer shall not be cheated of 

 his share in Nature's bounty because it will not pay to send the fruit 

 to market. Doubtless the railways perform a public service when 

 special trains are organized to convey the patrons of the Turf to the 

 race meetings. Would it be any less of a public service if the running 

 of special fast trains for conveyance of fruit and vegetables were 

 developed ? 



Much fruit would be saved from waste in times of glut if arrange- 

 ments were made for delivering direct to the jam -boiler. 



From the salesman there must be demanded an effort to meet the 

 difficulties of the retailer, which hinder the distribution of produce, 

 especially in periods of great plenty. 



Let anyone consider the position of the retailer. His wares are 

 of the most perishable character. To overbuy in any article may mean 

 loss, cancelling the earnings of a whole day. To get his wares home, 

 he must get up in the small hours of the morning — go to market 

 with his own conveyance and carry back his own purchases. Compare 

 this with the case of, say, the draper. His wares are not perishable, 

 except from the exigencies of fashion ; they are brought by direct 

 delivery or carrier; if the demand for his goods increases, he can 

 telephone to his wholesaler for fresh supplies. Can it be marvelled at 

 that under present conditions, at times of great plenty — when 

 the percentage of profit is a small margin, the public do not 

 reap the full benefit ? Adding all the handicaps — unorganized 

 growers, small accommodation between grower and railway, unfair 

 rates, uncertain deliveries, the temptations to the retailer to make 

 his profit by handling the minimum quantity of produce — would it 

 be wonderful if some truth existed in the stories read in newspapers 

 of fruit ungathered — lying rotting — because it would not pay to 

 forward it ? 



The salesman, besides securing modernizing of market arrange- 

 ments for receiving and forwarding produce — must organize deliveries 



