The  Progress  of  Fruit  Farming. 
381 
•exposed.  The  difference  between  the  prices  paid  to  the  pro- 
ducers and  those  paid  by  the  consumer  is  unreasonably  great.  A 
direct  supply  to  the  consumers  or  to  retail  shops  is  urgently 
wanted.  This  would  not  be  difficult  with  respect  to  the  finer 
fruits  and  hard  fruits.  It  is  now  done  to  some  extent  in  Kent, 
and  to  a considerable  extent  in  Worcestershire.  Many  of  the 
fruit-growers  in  the  famous  Evesham  district  advertise  their 
fine  plums  in  the  ‘Times’  and  other  papers.  It  is  very 
frequently  a great  boon  to  numbers  of  housekeepers  to  know 
where  to  get  good  fruit  both  for  eating  and  preserving,  and 
especially  when  it  is  offered  at  a fair  price.  Some  of  the 
Co-operative  Supply  Associations  afford  admirable  media  for 
the  distribution  of  fruit,  and  contract  with  the  growers  to 
furnish  them  with  fruits  in  due  season.  The  Parcels  Post  offers 
. admirable  advantages  for  the  distribution  of  fruits,  and  will 
enable  those  who  prefer  their  fruit  fresh  to  have  it  direct  from 
the  growers  day  by  day.*  Contracts  for  this  purpose  will  be 
made  with  growers ; and  while  the  charges  of  commission 
agents  and  of  retailers  will  be  avoided,  the  fruit  will  arrive 
comparatively  fresh,  not  having  been  exposed  in  markets  and 
shops,  and  not  having  been  picked  over  by  various  hands  more 
or  less  dirty.  Convenient  packages,  either  baskets  or  boxes, 
for  juicy  fruits  and  for  harder  kinds  will  be  necessary.  These 
will  probably  soon  be  forthcoming,  and  it  is  fully  expected  that 
a very  large  trade  will  be  carried  on,  if  the  growers  promptly 
seize  the  opportunity. 
In  the  case  of  apples  and  pears  it  is  most  imperatively  neces- 
sary that  the  growers  should  change  their  practice,  and  store 
the  best  eating  and  cooking  apples  as  the  Americans  and  the 
Canadians  store  them,  and  supply  the  markets  as  they  ripen. 
If  they  wish  to  compete  successfully  with  foreign  producers,  this 
must  be  done.  Inferior  apples,  which  are  not  wanted  for  cider, 
or  for  which  there  is  no  demand  for  mixing  up  with  other 
fruits  for  jam,  should  be  dried  after  the  American  plan,  either 
in  thin  slices  called  “ chips  ,”  or  “ sliced  fruit,”  or  as  “ cored 
quarters,”  or  “ uncored  quarters.”  In  the  counties  where  cider 
and  perry  are  made,  apples  and  pears  of  all  kinds  can  be 
utilised  when  there  is  a glut  in  the  market ; though  this  has  not 
happened  for  some  years.  The  demand  for  well-made  cider 
and  perry  has  perhaps  decreased  locally  in  a degree,  owing  to 
the  labourers  being  better  able  to  afford  to  buy  beer,  and  the 
preference  for  it  among  them  ; but  the  general  demand  has 
increased  at  least  50  per  cent.  Considerable  quantities  are  sent 
* The  low  rates  now  charged  by  the  Railway  Companies  for  small  parcels,  by 
reason  of  the  competition  of  the  Post  Office,  will  also  much  expedite  the  distri- 
bution of  fruit. 
