A SUBSTANTIAL OUTPUT 93 



Cucumbers are despatched thence in considerable 

 quantities all the year round, but in the months of 

 March, April, and May they represent, on Mondays, 

 Wednesdays, and Fridays, a total weight of about 

 12 tons a day. One firm alone will send 6 tons and 

 another 2 tons three times a week. For grapes, which 

 are also going from Worthing more or less throughout 

 the year, the daily average of consignments works out 

 at about 2\ tons. Of tomatoes there would be an 

 average of ij tons each day. Early beans, peas, and 

 strawberries go in smaller quantities, and are of less 

 importance, though they may supplement somewhat 

 the earnings of the growers. 



Some years ago, at Christmas-time, one Worthing 

 grower sold at no less a price than 33. 6d. an ounce, or 

 563. per pound, some strawberries he had forced in a 

 cucumber house, though the same number of plants, he 

 assured me, would have produced a better profit if they 

 had been allowed to yield their fruit in the open in the 

 normal course of the seasons. The purchasers of 

 flavourless Christmas strawberries at 563. per pound 

 are, it seems, wealthy residents of Brighton, who will 

 stop at no expense, provided they can put on their 

 tables something that no one else is likely to have. 



The arrangements made by the London, Brighton, 

 and South Coast Railway Company for handling the 

 traffic in London afford an object-lesson in good 

 organization. The fruit train starts from Chichester at 

 10.48 a.m., couples on fruit waggons at Angmering at 

 11.45; Goring, 11.50; West Worthing, 12.15 p.m.; 

 Worthing, 12.35; an d Lancing, 12.39; an d is due to 

 reach London Bridge about 2.30. While the train is 

 performing this journey there will have been sent by 

 telegraph to London Bridge from each station forward- 

 ing fruit, etc., a list of the dealers to whom the consign- 



