320 



JOURNAL OF HORTIOULTDRE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



( October 7, 187f. 



given up to Bamples of stock and sale transactions. Bat in 

 securing the requisite space for transactions, not only are 

 neighbouring hotels, bars, and ooffee-housea resorted to for 

 bargaining, but as in Mincing and Mark Lanes, the pavements 



and roadways themselves are at times made available, and 

 whole waggonloads of produce are sold by private contract or 

 by auction around. 

 To ba impressed with the absorbing powjr of Covent trarden 



I 



Market one should visit it at early mom to be in time for 

 the arrivals. The noise and stir gradually increase, like a 

 quiet sea being lashed into a storm. From each point of 

 access come all sorts of vehicles, from trucks to farmers' 

 heavy carts and railway contractors' waggons. The members 

 of the vegetable kingdom in season make a huge display on 

 the southern side, and choke up Great Russell and James 



Streets, whilst fruit, of which the air is redolent, and the 

 delicate vegetable products of the hothouse and garden, such 

 as encumbers and Artichokes, find their way to the northern 

 colonnade and the piazza. Above the crunching of the heavily- 

 laden vans and the tramp of multitudinous feet are heard the 

 voices of porters, market dealers, greengrocers, costers, all on 

 the alert. There is a veritable babel of tongues,"of which only 



