464 ON THE PRICE OF FOREIGN PRODUCE. 



three of sanders 35. ^d. These are early. Later I find 

 turmeric at is. Five of carraways, also early, are at an 

 average of a little over is. 4\d. Green or wet ginger is 

 bought twice at 3^. 9^. In 1585 saffron is bought at 2J. 6d. 

 the ounce, in 1608 at 40$. the pound, in 1614 at 24^., the fact 

 being noted that the saffron is English. In 1585 isinglass is 

 4s. the pound ; in 1601, zd. the oz. ; in 1623, 3^. a pound ; in 

 1684, 6d. an oz. Once I have found coriander. In 1609 it 

 is 5^. 4d. the pound. Three times I have found grains of para- 

 dise at a little over is. i\d. the pound; fenugreek once, 

 at 7^/. 



Figs are found occasionally, generally at ^d. the pound. 

 In one year (1601) they are at 6\d. In the year 1633, when 

 ordinary figs are at 4^., some styled blue figs are bought by 

 Caryll at is. $d. It is well known that the fig was planted in 

 England, especially in the South, though also in Oxford, early in 

 the seventeenth century, the story being that some of the trees 

 in Oxford were the first ever planted, and that the old fig 

 plantation at Worthing was derived from the Oxford plants. 

 It is probable then that the purchase was of ripe green figs 

 from some southern orchard. Blue figs are also bought at 

 Mendham in 1639 at led. Dates are found also in nine years, 

 but at very various prices, 3^. a pound in 1609, and 3^. in 

 1614. Generally they are from is. to zs. In 1590, is. is 

 given for a pomegranate. 



Oranges and lemons are also purchased. In 1599 a 

 * quarter ' of * Cyvell ' oranges, by which I suppose a quarter 

 of a hundred is meant, costs 2s. A century later 100 Seville 

 oranges cost 3^. 6d. The price of ordinary oranges varies 

 very much, from ^d. to 3^. a dozen. The supply must have 

 been very irregular, or the market very uncertain. Lemons 

 are generally dearer than oranges. The cheapest are at 

 is. 6d. the score in 1632. But the price varies from is. to 

 $s. a dozen. In 1699 Seville lemons are at 9^. the hundred. 

 The average price of the orange entries is is. Q\d. the dozen, 

 of the lemons, 2s. 



