CONFERENCE ON FRUIT GROWING. 



59 



carry our produce to all parts of the kingdom by express trains at rates 

 unremunerative to their shareholders. 



I should like to give a few particulars with regard to our industry in 

 the Vale of Evesham, having been associated with it myself for a great 

 many years. 



Just to prove to what extent we are indebted to the railway companies 

 I have named, I would mention that in the year 1865 thirty to forty truck- 

 loads in the height of the season was considered a big traffic, and most of 

 this was despatched from two stations. Now it amounts to ten times 

 this quantity in the busy season, and fourteen railway stations have been 

 provided within a radius of five miles of Evesham. Special express goods 

 trains are run to all parts of the country throughout the season. Fruit 

 loaded at mid-day is landed at any part of Scotland and the principal 

 towns in Ireland early next morning. Consignments to these parts a 

 few years ago were two days in transit. 



The acreage (all practically under small holdings) has increased from 

 about 1,500 in the former year to 15,000 at the present time, within an 

 area of four or five miles, and is still extending. 



We often read reports in newspapers that large quantities of fruit in 

 certain seasons are allowed to rot on the ground owing to the action of the 

 railway companies in charging excessive freights. I do not share in this 

 view myself, and candidly say that in the whole course of my long experi- 

 ence I have never known fruit that was fit for market purposes wasted 

 owing to the fault of railway companies. 



I expect this idea arises from the fact that tons of low-quality apples 

 and pears are often seen in grass orchards lying under the trees untouched. 



I need hardly remind this meeting that it is pretty generally agreed 

 amongst practical men that seventy-five per cent, of the fruit grown in 

 British grass orchards is small and common undersized fruit, and not good 

 enough to-day to send to any market to compete with the better-grade 

 fruit that finds its way into our markets. What was good enough even 

 ten years ago for British markets will not do to-day. 



With regard to railway rates for the carriage of our produce from the 

 Vale of Evesham, I have no hesitation in saying that rates in operation 

 are fair and reasonable, with some few exceptions ; for instance, I will 

 read the following cutting from a Newcastle paper : 



" One still hears the old complaint about the railway rates. Some of 

 these complaints will not hold water when inquired into, but, on the face 

 of it, it often seems that the railway companies take a big proportion of the 

 price produce makes. For instance, an Evesham salesman the other, day 

 showed us an account for some mixed produce sent to Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

 Good prices were realised, and the total came to over £7, of which some- 

 thing over £4 went to the railway company for carriage, and less than €2 

 to the salesman. Of course Newcastle-on-Tyne is a long distance away, 

 but this does seem rather heavy." 



Complaints of friction often arrive owing to the complication of the 

 Clearing House classification. As far as my memory serves me, this is 

 formulated upon lines almost similar to those of forty years ago. 



Times have changed, as we all know, especially in the fruit trade, 

 during these years ; and what is wanted to clear away a lot of these 



